James R. 'Jim' Gregg, 83

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 U.S. Navy. He served in the Navy from 1943 until 1946 as an aviation ordnanceman 2 c in the Asiatic Pacific campaign, serving as a tail gunner.

He returned to Whitefish after being discharged from the Navy, where he went to work for the Burlington 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 went to work for the Whitefish Golf Course as its marshal. He retired as course marshal in 2006, having worked for the golf course for 19 years. Jim was an avid golfer, and he and his brother Jack were two of the oldest charter members of Whitefish 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, was a "Key Stone Kop" for the Kiwanis Club and was 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; a brother, Robert Gregg; and a sister, Jean Anne McKinley.

He is survived by his children and spouses, Carol and Mark Schreibeis, James and Irene Johnson, Jeff Gregg, Jerry Gregg, and Tracey and Trent Schumacher; siblings, Jack Gregg of Billings, Bonnie Palmquist of Annadale, Minn., and 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 will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at Glacier Memorial Gardens. A celebration of Jim's life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 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.

You are invited to go to www.buffalohillfh.com to sign Jim's book, or leave personal messages. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.