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1925 - 2005
Age: 80
GREGORY, Joseph Edward
Paw Paw
Passed away Tuesday morning July 12, 2005 at his home. Joseph was born April 13, 1925 in Kalamazoo MI the son of the late Joseph and Hazel (McGowan) Gregory. He was a graduated from Michigan State University in 1950 and lived the past 35 years in Paw Paw. He was employed by several companies including Galesburg manufacturing where served as plant superintendent. He served in the United States Army Air Corp during World War II. Prior to that he served in Company C, 32nd Infantry Division, Michigan State Troops. Joe was active for most of his life in Boy Scouts of America, receiving the coveted Silver Beaver Award for outstanding service. He was an active member of the Paw Paw United Methodist Church. Joe served on the Paw Paw Township Planning Commission for many terms and was a member of the Paw Paw Area Parks and Recreation Commission. He was one of the founding members of the Eastern Van Buren Habitat for Humanity serving on the board and in active construction work. In 1999, he and his wife Jerilee were named Citizens of the Year by the Paw Paw Chamber of Commerce. He was united in marriage June 22, 1952 to Jerilee Denison who preceded him in death. Surviving are a daughter, Diane (Dennis) Erikson of Kalamazoo, MI; two sons, David (Julie) Gregory of Tekonsha, MI and Jack Gregory of Edwardsburg, MI.; ten beloved grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother Robert (Shirley) Gregory of Paw Paw, MI; many nieces and nephews. A sister Laura Perigo preceded him in death. Visitations will be at the Adams Funeral Home, Paw Paw Friday 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be held Saturday 11 a.m. at the Paw Paw United Methodist Church with Rev. Robert Lynch officiating. Private family interment will follow in Wildey Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Borgess Visiting Nurse and Hospice. Share a memory on line at: www.timeformemory.com/adams
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There are currently 9 condolences.
Monday July 25, 2005 at
1:32 PM
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Joe was my uncle. My middle name is his, Sandra Jo Gregory. I loved him very and much and will miss him. After I moved to New Mexico in the 70's I had flown back home for Christmas to Paw Paw and arrived at the lake in this incredible 20 below snow storm. I looked out on the lake and saw an ice fisherman. "Who is that crazy person?" I asked my Dad. The next time I looked out he was headed towards the house. Within moments my Uncle Joe was standing inside with a bucket full of blue gills, which he knew I loved, saying welcome home Sandy. My life is full of wonderful memories from my childhood with Joe and Jeri and David, Diane, and Baby Jack!!!!!! Love to you all. Your cousin Sandy.
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Russell Perigo
reperigo@sbcglobal.net
Tuesday July 19, 2005 at
11:06 PM
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Joe was my uncle, my mother Laura was his sister.
I brought something with me today...this red envelope is the Christmas card I meant to send to my Uncle Joe last year. I found it while cleaning out my minivan. It had fallen between the seat and the console...out of sight for the last six months. I was going to send it to Uncle Joe and joke about Christmas in July but it was too late. The address sticker has a picture of a cat holding a chain of cutout Christmas trees, and we used the nice Santa Claus stamps last year. There is something very sad about a lost Christmas card...a message of good will and love never received.
I thought about the weekend spent with my Uncle Joe and Aunt Jeri just a few months after my mother had died. They invited us to stay with them for the McGowan family reunion...insisted really. Aunt Jeri again insisted on cooking a big breakfast and later Uncle Joe showed me how to roast a turkey over a campfire...a technique he had perfected on his hunting trips up north. Soon I realized this was more than just a cooking lesson, the message of this weekend was coming through loud and clear...though you have lost your father, and now your mother...remember you still have family here. If you think back to your times with my Uncle Joe, and look just under the words, you will find messages meant for you...messages of caring...messages of support...messages of friendship.
So I wonder, even in a world where an errant bump in the road can derail a card of Christmas cheer...maybe in the long run the message still manages to get through. So Merry Christmas Uncle Joe, and congratulations on a life well lived.
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John Morrison
johnmorsun@msn.com
Monday July 18, 2005 at
10:32 PM
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Joe was an influential Boy Scout leader for 2 generations of Morrison's and was influential in helping both David and me attain Eagle Scout.
Of course most of our scout meetings lately were at Teapot
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Betty Wassman
carlyle@cybersol.com
Friday July 15, 2005 at
2:24 PM
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Carlyle and I met Joe and Jeri at the very first Lake Cora Christmas party when Joe and I discovered that we had graduated in the same class at Kalamazoo Central. Since then, we have spent much time together---traveling, having dinner, playing cards, and attending lake functions. Of course, Joe and Carlyle also spent many hours talking and joking at "Teapot" (the Think Tank).
We loved them both and were proud to be among their many friends. I am now the lone survivor of this foursome, and I miss them all painfully.
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Kaye Brininger
longboatpad@aol.com
Friday July 15, 2005 at
10:09 AM
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Memories are the gifts we have from our loved ones!
My special memory of Joe was in
Costa Rica at Mark & Sarah's wedding:
It was a beautiful sunset evening and a Grandfather was walking his Granddaughter up the
"isle" (hill) with a smile on his
face and so proud to be there.
Love was in the air!!
Our deepest sympathy to his family, and may you treasure your
memories of this dear man.
Jack & Kaye Brininger
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Ken & Donna Barnett
kbarnett211@btc-bci.com
Friday July 15, 2005 at
7:53 AM
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Mr Joe was one of the most honorable men we have ever known. He was major part of our lives beginning with Boy Scouting. Our sons Kenneth and Jacob were greatly impacted by all that he gave to their lives. Jacob would always stop by to see him when he would come home on leave from the Navy. He will be greatly missed by us all and we are so glad that we had him in our lives as long as we did.
May the love and support of your family and friends help ease you through this sorrowful time. We will cherish our memories of him always.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you,
Ken and Donna Barnett
Kenneth Barnett
Jacob Serdel
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Dan & Carolyn Sherman Family
dansherman@charter.net
Thursday July 14, 2005 at
10:58 AM
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My Uncle Joe was a man's man...an outdoors man. I will always remember the plaque on the wall of the cottage... "He who cuts his own wood is twice warmed."
Next to my cherished Aunt Jerilee, he was a man of few words, but each one was worthy of absorbsion. I believe that the measure of a man's life is how much he loves God and his neighbors. Based on Joe's involvement in the community and church, I would say he is standing mighty tall in heaven right now and God is saying "Well done, Joe, now rest with Me."
We can't miss you because you are forever engrained in our hearts! See you up in heaven, dear Joseph!
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Julie Mattison
Wednesday July 13, 2005 at
8:03 PM
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I had the pleasure and privilege of cleaning for Joe and Jerilee for fourteen years. I sure enjoyed visiting with Joe and getting to know him better the past few years. We also shared the great school, Kalamazoo Central High!! Sincerely, Julie Mattison
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Dennis and Linda Cogswell
Wednesday July 13, 2005 at
1:59 PM
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We were sorry to hear of the loss of Joe. He was a wonderful person and we enjoyed knowing him and Jerilee throughout the years that we lived in Paw Paw.
Our thought are with you and your family.
Dennis and Linda Cogswell
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