James “Jim” Gregg

James R. “Jim” Gregg, 83, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009, at his home in Whitefish.

Jim was born July 31, 1925, in Whitefish to Earl and Lily (Hunt) Gregg. He was raised in Lone Pine and Whitefish, where he attended schools.

Jim left Whitefish High School so he could enlist in the Navy. He served from 1943 until 1946 as an aviation ordnance man in the Asiatic Pacific campaign, serving as a tail gunner.

He returned to Whitefish after his discharge and went to work for the Great Northern railroad as a freight conductor.

He married Gloria Hoffman in Polson in 1952.

After working his whole adult life for the railroad, he retired in 1987.

Jim next went to work at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course as its marshal. He retired as course marshal in 2006 after 19 years. Jim was an avid golfer, and he and his brother Jack were two of the oldest charter members of Whitefish Lake Golf Course. Jim achieved his goal of golfing his age when he turned 76.

He enjoyed a good cup of coffee and working in his flower gardens.

He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and one of their“Keystone Kops. He was also a lifetime member of the Moose Lodge.

Jim was preceded in death by twin infant daughters; his parents Earl and Lily Gregg; his wife Gloria; his brother Robert; and his sister Jean Anne McKinley.

He is survived by his daughter Carol Schreibeis and husband Mark, daughter Irene Johnson and husband James, son Jeff Gregg, son Jerry Gregg, and daughter Tracey Schumacher and husband Trent; brother Jack Gregg, of Billings, sister Bonnie Palmquist, of Annadale, Minn., and sister Marcie Conn, of Marysville, Wash.; brothers-in-law Jim Hoffman and Harvey Kaber; sisters-in-law Betty Sagen and Margaret Gregg; grandchildren Heidi Collingwood, Jason Schreibeis, Jame Jesse Johnson, Justin and Gretchen Johnson, and Caleb and Khanner Schumacher; great grandchildren Erika and Jeremey Collingwood, Kayne, Tyrion and Nakiyah Schreibeis, and Khrystal and Khalesha Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews and friends.

Urn burial took place Feb. 6, 2009, at Glacier Memorial Gardens followed by a celebration of Jim’s life at the Church at Creston, with the Rev. Darold Reiner officiating.

The family requests memorials be sent to Hospice, or the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.