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George (Greg) Eugene Greger
02/23/1923 — 03/05/2015
From Richland, Washington | Born in Stuart, Nebraska
George (Greg) Eugene Greger
George (Greg) Eugene Greger, age 92, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday evening, March 5, 2015. He lived on his own in the B house he'd converted for his family fifty years ago. Greg had just finished his taxes and was planning his garden.
Greg
was born on the family farm near Stuart, Nebraska, on February 23, 1923, to
Frank and Margaret (Miksch) Greger, the youngest of six children. He and his
siblings grew up on the farm homesteaded by his parents. He attended a rural
one-room school until eighth grade and then completed high school in town.
At
19 Greg joined the army and in 1944 was sent to Europe with Company K of the
409th Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division. After the war, he graduated from the
University of Nebraska, but not before he met Margaret Mary Haun, who was
taking journalism classes there. They married in 1947 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Greg and Margaret moved to New York City in 1949 and later to Walsenburg, Colorado, to pursue his photography. In 1950, they moved to Richland where Greg began working as a radiation monitor. He retired in 1987 as a Senior Systems Analyst after 36 years of Hanford service.
The
two of them had seven children and enjoyed 61 years together, until her death
in 2009. Greg was a remarkable father, supporting his children toward six BA’s,
5 Masters', and all manner of hobbies, art projects and outdoor activities.
He
felt strongly about human rights and during the 1960’s served on Richland’s
first Human Rights Commission, working to insure no discrimination toward
renters or buyers in the housing market.
Throughout
his life, Greg demonstrated interest and skill in photography, bicycles,
fishing, hang-gliding, metal sculpture; and he shared a love of kite-making
with Margaret. He also taught himself to flint-knap, making beautiful arrow
points and teaching others that ancient art. He claimed he was part of the
“Wannabe” tribe.
As
a member of the Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society education group, he helped
develop the McNary Environmental Education Center at the McNary Wildlife
Refuge, found the Friends of McNary Refuge, and engineered the construction of
a tule mat tepee there, a project which involved local eighth graders and the
Wanapum tribe.
Greg
is survived by his seven children: Debora Greger (William Logan) of
Gainesville, FL; Miriam Kuhn (Steve) of Yakima, WA; Joel Greger (Marla Parada)
of Crockett, CA; Jan Gregor (Ashleigh) of Astoria, OR; Amelie Greger (Steve);
Del Greger (David Edwards) of San Francisco, CA; and Evan Greger (Meredith
Zarling) of Basel, Switzerland. He is also survived by three grandchildren:
Thomas Kuhn, Avalon Edwards and Brennan Greger.
Greg
was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Margaret Greger, his wife Margaret
and by his sisters Mary Krysl, Margaret Kaup, Sophie Harwood and Rose Marr and
his brother Frank Greger, Jr.
Einan's
at Sunset Funeral Home is taking care of arrangements and has an online
memorial where your memories of Greg can be left.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lower Columbia Audubon Society or the Friends of the Mid-Columbia Wildlife Refuges.
A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, April 10th at 11:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church in Richland. It will be followed by a Celebration of Life reception. The family welcomes old and new friends alike to join us in celebrating a life well lived. Greg Greger will be remembered for his humor, kindness, compassion and generosity.
Greg was a frequent visitor to the Richland Public Library and a huge supporter of ours. He was always willing to present a kite building class for kids and just a few years ago, filled the lobby with beautiful strings of kites hanging from the ceiling. We will miss him.
My parents made a great team and were into raising a family. For the seven children Dad was solid, reliable, calm and supportive. He believed in the family and always believed in us.
Sad to hear this news. Greg was such a wonderful character and so kind to the CREHST Museum. He was so willing to help out on any occasion and contributed so much to the community. Kites and Flint Knapping and so much more. Night at the Museum and volunteer meetings. Thanks Greg for all you gave to us and for your friendship. Sorry for all your wonderful family. We will remember your 90th Birthday party and how fantastic it was to have so many of your family members around you. xxxx Nick and Ellen
I did not know Greg very well but do have fond memories of my time at the Greger home. I always loved seeing all the creative art projects around the home, the yummy root beer, and how both Greg and Margaret opened up their home with welcoming smiles to all of us. He always seemed like a quite gentle man.
I am very sorry for your loss and am thinking of your entire family.
If kids had ideas, Dad was on board. Collect all the Christmas trees in the neighborhood and stack them in our yard-no problem. Build an un-boat out of milk cartons and float over the dam-sure! Projects were the mode.
It was not until much later I realized the level of Dad’s integrity. His activism put job security at risk and there was tension with top city and church officials.
Dad was an exemplary model to me with his steady perseverance. He walked the walk.
I miss his farm intellect and way of noticing minute details.
I was lucky to be a part of his remarkable life. His goodness was infectious. May his Great Spirit live on.
I didn’t know Mr. Greger very well, but my memories of him are as being a very quiet and observant man. Living next door to the Gregers gave me wonderful childhood memories: Playing in the back yard playhouse, making spook houses in the basement, going to the big pool, playing hide and seek at night, picking asparagus, and of course, drinking their home made root beer! It was fun. I am very sorry for your loss, Greger kids. You were lucky to have him for such a long time.
I have been walking around in state of denial that the Margaret and Greg era is over. They were such a center and a source for so many qualities, intelligence, humor, resourcefulness, generosity. I could go on and on. So often I see things that would match their outlook on life exactly, those quirky, funny, dear things they loved. They aways supported us in being true to our talents and dreams, I am comforted that we can still have those Greger moments of delight. I have Greg’s points and the net sinker he gave us for a wedding present, and his Paiute duck on display. I will always treasure their spirited company.
Bless you all,
Joan Newcomb
To the George Greger Family- We are sending our deepest sympathy for the loss of your Father. I will miss our phone conversations and the e-mails. He was always fun to visit with. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
I never knew George, but I certainly knew Margaret. I loved her kites. I once asked if she would trade one for some of the pottery I made. She had to think about it, but she did call and express interest in the trade. I gave the kite to my husband as a gift. It was always on the wall of our house.
My husband and I have since split, but I’m quite sure he has Margaret’s kite on display in his current house. The kite will be eternally loved–and I assume it also reflects some of George’s energy.
Judi Gibbs formerly Richland
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Dad had an artistic eye and a creative mind and he put these attributes to use in sculpture, furniture construction, children’s play equipment construction, photography and kitemaking. He was a natural efficiency expert, always noticing the best way to streamline any process. He blessed his children with opportunities in music, art, drama, gardening, fishing, photography and so much more. The Greger household usually had wood, wire, rope, nails and glue, Dad was our expert help and friends were always welcomed. For vacations we camped and explored our way around Washington, from Mt. Rainier to the Olympic Peninsula and Orcas Island. As we got older, he continued to encourage us in our interests and in further education. He loved his grandchildren and valued opportunities to do activities with them as well.
I admire Dad for being a man of faith and integrity, a man who loved his family and demonstrated it in so many ways.
Greg was a kind and gentle soul who cherished the opportunity to share the natural world. He was gracious in life and remains an example for all to follow.
I was blessed to have known him.
I have a beautiful duck decoy made out of reeds, it is like the natives used to make and use, Greg made it and I will remember him when I look at it! We really enjoyed his involvement with the Friends of the National Wildlife Refuge, he was always willing to be present for the children and to teach them. We will miss him.
Heidi Newsome
Wildlife Biologist, Mid-Columbia River NWR Complex
In 1973, in an effort to reconnect with me (remember the generation gap?), my dad suggested we try hang gliding together. I was 20, he was 50. I didn’t even know what hang gliding was, it was just starting. So we bought a kit together, built it, and taught ourselves to fly. He then had the idea of obtaining a dealership and starting a club, which the beginning of it in the Tri City area. It was a very exciting time and it would not have happened for me and others except for him. Of course that was just one facet of a long amazing life. There are many stories like this.
peace,
Joel Greger (son)
A man with a positive impact on his family and community who will surely be missed. My condolences to Del and all the family and friends.
So many great memories of growing up down the street from the Greger family. Mr. Greger always had two or three projects going at the same time but my favorite memory is his welding. In the back yard he had his open air shop set up and I can still see the blue flame connecting random pieces of metal that turned into art. The most incredible piece was the human skull with the rock for the brain. When a snot nosed kid stops in his tracks, takes a look and thinks “that is pretty cool” you know that is a masterpiece. Mr. Greger thank you for being a part of who I am today.
How did Dad, on his own, convert the B-house we lived in from a duplex to a single unit, while working days out in the Areas? There was some furniture-making in there, too. And when 2 classic B-house front porches were removed from the front of the house, he did what you learned to do when you grew up on a farm in Nebraska: he saved them in the back yard. Then his art degree kicked in: he saw how they could be re-purposed as a split-level open-air playhouse for his kids. Who were beyond thrilled. And there was even covered storage space for some of his equipment underneath. Oh, he was a rare one. How he is missed.
Guestbook for
George (Greg) Eugene Greger