Sonny "Glenn" Adams

We are deeply saddened to share the news that Sonny “Glenn” Adams passed away unexpectedly on September 16, 2026, at the age of 65. Glenn was born and raised in Tobermory, Ontario, Canada, a small village and popular tourist destination on the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. Glenn’s family owned and operated the full-service Highway Market, where Glenn learned and honed his business and entrepreneurial skills.

Glenn attended Ryerson Institute of Technology, Toronto, Ontario, where he studied electrical engineering. After graduation, Glenn joined Bell Canada and began his career in telecommunications. Glenn was soon recruited by AT&T Canada, where he met his US coworker and future wife, Mary Hoover. Glenn and Mary wed in 1994, and soon son James Glenn arrived to complete their family. In 1995, Glenn, Mary and James moved to their permanent home in Minneapolis, MN, where Glenn proudly became a naturalized US citizen and took an enthusiastic interest in US, Canadian and global politics. Always a man to spot opportunities and take risks, Glenn left the corporate world and started his first company, Minnesota Gateway, and broke the rules by giving his customers unprecedented control over their data networks. Glenn’s company rapidly grew to become the largest private internet company in Minnesota. After selling MN Gateway, Glenn expanded his business interests to include Allied Generators, commercial real estate, and investing in innovative startups.

Glenn split his retirement years between big city life in Minneapolis and small town living in Isle, MN, located on the shores of Lake Mille Lacs. After growing up on the shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, Glenn loved the big waters of Mille Lacs and the small town of Isle, where he made it his personal mission to learn everyone’s name.

Glenn is survived by Mary Hoover, his wife of 32 years, son James, siblings Laurie, Tony (Sharon) and Lindy, sister-in-law Laurie K, Hoover in-laws Tim, Betsy Rakotz, Dianne Coughlin, Laurel, Susan (Vince), John, Robert, Sheila, and Anne Vogel (Dan). Glenn relished his role as “Uncle Glenn,” and enjoyed a close and loving bond with his many nieces and nephews.

Glenn was preceded in death by his parents Cleve and Jean Adams and brother Kevin, his in-laws Joe and Polly Hoover, brothers-in-law Joe Hoover, Bruce Guild, Darrell Rakotz and Wes Vaught.

Glenn’s memorial service will be held on Friday, October 9, at Washburn-McReavy Edina Funeral Chapel, 5000 West 50th and Highway 100, Edina MN 55436. Visitation begins at 4pm, memorial service starts at 5pm, with a reception to follow. To view the serivce, please visit Glenn’s Tribute Wall and click on the posted link to be taken to a new page for the service or us this link https://together.oneroomstreaming.com/WashburnMcReavyEdina/sonny-glenn-adams/Y39WBQ
Burial will be a short service on Saturday, October 10, 11 am, at Calvary Cemetery, 2302 Cooper Ave S, St. Cloud MN 56301.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Glenn on the Adams Family Farm in Tobermory on August 1, 2027.

Years ago, Glenn drove past Union Gospel Mission and was deeply moved by the suffering he saw there. He became a supporter for the rest of his life. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to this essential humanitarian organization.