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Glenn DePue, who distinguished himself as a highly successful executive throughout his remarkable 30-year career with Yamaha Corporation of America, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at his home in Mesa, Arizona. He was 84.
Glenn was best defined as a devoted husband to his wife, Marian, a wonderfully loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and by his enduring love for music.
Born February 24, 1940, to William R. DePue and Esther A. Brohavgh, Glenn grew up in Raymond, Minnesota, but he attended St. Louis Park High School where he first found his passion for playing the trombone. In fact, classmates may recall that Glenn played in our SLP School Band every year in high school. They may also recall that graduating with us in 1958 was Glenn's brother, Russel Depue, who was a homebound student who was beset with the ravages of Polio. Glenn always looked out for the interests of his brother, Russel, who was born about a year earlier than Glenn, and who died in 1963.
Beginning in 1958, Glenn served four years in the U.S. Navy, attending Radarman school at Treasure Island, California in 1959. After serving on the destroyer Earnest G. Small, he was transferred to the USS Rochester until she was decommissioned in 1961.
Glenn’s love for music only grew during his time in the Navy. While in boot camp in San Diego, he participated in the Drum and Bugle Corps. During Radarman school, he performed with the school’s Command Band, and on the USS Rochester, he played trombone and keyboards in the ship’s band, The Blue Notes.
Glenn had a top-secret clearance, which landed him a job with the Boeing Company on their missile sites and handled secret documents. He followed that with a job at the Xerox Corporation, and then joined a friend in a fiberglass manufacturing business in Chisholm, Minnesota, which made canoes and snowmobile hoods for Artic Cats and golf cart bodies. Glenn has indicated that the business didn't fare well.
Glenn later studied Business Management at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. In 1970, he partnered with future Yamaha colleague Dennis Van Vactor to open Stephenson’s Music, a full-line musical instrument store in Rapid City, South Dakota.
His three-decade career with Yamaha began in 1979 when, at age 39, he joined the world’s largest musical instrument manufacturer as a District Manager. He later became the Assistant Manager in charge of Portable Keyboards and the General Manager of what was then known as the Audio, Guitar and Synthesizer Division. He was named Vice President of the company’s Emerging Markets Group in 1995 before retiring from Yamaha in 2000. During his career with Yamaha, Glenn had the great privilege of working with musical artists like Barbara Mandrell, Trisha Yearwood, Tracy Lawrence and Stevie Wonder.
Early in his career with Yamaha, Glenn met Marian Johnson, who was working in the credit department at Yamaha while Glenn was in sales, and who recalls the encounter as “the best thing that ever happened to me!” The couple were married on September 3, 1981.
“Glenn was a much-loved leader at Yamaha who translated his passion for music and musical instruments into a fulfilling career,” said Tom Sumner, president, Yamaha Corporation of America. “He always showed joy in meeting and working with Yamaha artists and mentored many young leaders who went on to have great careers of their own at Yamaha. The Yamaha family will miss him, and we send our condolences to his wife, Marian.”
During his retirement, Glenn enjoyed amateur radio and playing many rounds of golf. He and Marian also traveled the US in the summers in their RV. Also, for kicks, Glenn taught piano for Crystal Cruise Lines, which allowed he and Marian the opportunity to travel the world for practically nothing.
Glenn is survived by his wife, Marian; three daughters, Tina DePue, Tiffany Hunt and Deborah Gobel; and four stepchildren, Jeffery Scott Bradford, Staci Dawn Padilla, Wendy Kay Coakley and Lori Lewis, as well as 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Glenn will be held in Arizona at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Lung Association in Glenn’s name.
The DePue family would like to thank their music industry colleagues for their support, love, and strong belief in Glenn. They would also like to thank the staff of Mountain Vista Hospital in Mesa for their kindness, help, and support in providing Glenn’s care and extend their deepest appreciation to all their friends for their outpouring of love and support.
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Mary Reid (Brooks)
Glenn was also devoted to his dear handicapped brother. Glenn was a fine person with a big heart.Bill Dean
Glenn and I became the best of friends from about ages of 9 or 10, when he and his brother Russell moved into our neighborhood. His house was on Minnetonka Boulevard just beyond the Y intersection, where Lake Street and Minnetonka Blvd. split. The Pastime Arena was directly behind his home. and he lived directly across the street from the Jarosaks, where our classmate Vern and his 5 brothers lived.
Glenn and I spent countless hours together, biking, playing games, exchanging stories, planning our futures, hiking in the woods and doing all the things kids did in the late forties and fifties. He built a treehouse in the woods behind his house, and we smoked our first cigarettes together there! Ugh. I would often go over to his house and play chess with his brother, who was smart as a whip and would usually win our games. Glenn didn't play chess, but he was so proud of his brother and would watch us play and loved it when Russ checkmated me.
We both took up the trombone together and both played in the band throughout high school. As it turned out, he took it more seriously than I did, and it became the basis for his later career in music, which was distinguished. We also enjoyed amateur radio got our ham licenses about the same time, along with Tommy Martin, another classmate who lived in the neighborhood.
Over the years our paths diverged. But we always stayed in touch and when, on occasion, we would see each other at reunions, all the memories of our childhoods together once again would come to the surface. We always enjoyed reminiscing.about those times.
in retirement, we both established homes in Arizona; Glenn on a permanent basis, I only parttime. But in the last few years we usually found time to squeeze in a round of golf together once every year or two.
Glenn was a cherished and dear friend to me and to so many others. I was shocked when I learned of his passing. I will miss him greatly. My deepest condolences to Marian.
RIP, Glenn, my dearly loved buddy.