JEROME "ROME" GREVING

Jerome H. “Poppa G” Greving, 74, of 1027 N.18th St. died at 7:15 p.m. Friday (October 7, 2005) at his earthly home. In keeping with the countless poems he published in honor of his beloved ‘Momma G.’ we will attempt to eulogize his amazing life in rhyme.

“His journey began in 1931, the ninth of July, the youngest son of Clement and Emma- yet only one of nine other siblings all said and done. There were stories of hardships and plenty of chores, of running across town to school every morn. There were favorite foods his mother would fix and all the shenanigans, mischief and tricks. He lost his father when just a teen, perhaps that’s when everyone started to lean on his broadening shoulders, so strong, so secure, God knew even then what he’d live to endure.

Ever an underdog, quiet and all, but he always stood physically, spiritually, tall. He married our mother, so thankful he did, she adored him and loved him and then came two kids. Loretta, his favorite, Veronica too, a world filled with women and malls filled with shoes. God sent him daughters but Greving and “Son” would long keep him busy with jobs to be done. He prided himself on his tin “works of art”, the St. Francis steeple, he knew it by heart. He worked countless hours at staggering heights, then groveled through basements and night after night, he’d walk through that door with the day on his hands, he’d flash mom that smile and then “daddy” began. This daddy knew what really mattered was time, and more often than not you would typically find our family together on bike rides, at games, he was still playing volleyball, now it won’t be the same.

We’ll remember our pony, a Christmas surprise, the look on their faces, the love in their eyes. Puppies, and kittens, rabbits and birds, he never complained much that we ever heard. He was mom’s gentle giant and we saw first hand his compassion and patience as cancer began. He never recovered from losing her though he tried hard to mask it so we wouldn’t know. He poured into others, tried not to complain, he knew the Good Lord would give strength to sustain. He loved on his grandkids, enjoying them so, we’re still wondering how we will ever let go. So many memories, so much unknown, no more fish tales or his special poems. All the cards and the hugs, you may even have got one, I suspect were just filling the hole there without mom. His strength, his character, his generous heart, he had the fruit of the Spirit nailed down to an art. He longed for mercy to walk through the gates, to grab mom and kiss her, to see Jesus’ face. If angels love candy they’re in for a treat, it’s there in his pocket, how much can you eat? Words fail at expressing how much we relied on his presence, his humor, his wisdom to guide. Our hearts ache, our eyes fill, our minds question why, but we’ll ever be grateful he was part of our lives. It’s expensive to print this, too late to be brief, forever you’ll have all our love, Poppa G.”

He leaves behind two daughters who were quite privileged to call him father; Loretta Nobis and her husband, Kevin, Veronica Fey (his other favorite) and her husband, David, all of Quincy; four grandchildren, Shawna Nobis and her fiancé John Mitchell, Emma Lee, Chandler and Harrison Fey, all of Quincy; his spoiled golden retriever, Abby; four sisters, Virginia Greving, Mildred Schwartz and her husband Ralph, Delores Thomas and her husband Rollie, all of Quincy, and Joyce Scheets of Jacksonville; a brother and sister in-law, Ralph and Liz Timpe, sister-in-laws Bert Greving, Joann Greving, Doris Walton and Delta Wiegmann, all of Quincy; and many nieces, nephews and close friends.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Darlene (Walton); his parents, Clement and Emma (Niehaus) Greving; four brothers, Paul, Herb, Melvin and Earl Greving and one sister, Florence Clark.

He graduated from Christian Brother’s High School in 1949, served in the Korean War, was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church, and was active at Madison Park Christian Church. He served on the funeral detail of the Quincy American Legion Post #37. He was a cancer survivor and walked annually in honor of our mother. He routinely enjoyed breakfast at HyVee and his friendships there, and recently favored the ribs at the Place. He reluctantly “retired” in 2002 from Greving and Son Heating and Air-Conditioning after 50+ years of service. He enjoyed his family, fishing (did he ever love fishing…), area football and baseball games and was often seen riding through town in his truck with his dog. He was concerned about the environment especially the rain forest. He never missed an important event for either one of us or our children. He loved gospel music and tolerated our contemporary passions. He lived simply and modeled to us the perfect picture of our heavenly Father. His poems for “Momma G” have been an inspiration to Herald Whig subscribers since her death in 1997.

Prayers will be offered at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home with a memorial Mass following at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Francis Catholic Church, where he married our mother on July 28, 1958. Burial will be at Quincy Memorial Park, where every morning since we buried our mother, he and his dog have faithfully visited her grave with fresh flowers, fresh coffee and a donut or two.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home. Quincy American Legion Post #37 will conduct military services at the cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Crossing, Gateway Ministries or St. Francis Catholic Church. And do something for somebody else today. That would honor him most.