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Greg Wilkes Obituary
This obituary was originally published in the Star Tribune.
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Frances C. Uva
June 17, 2023
Dear Greg’s Family,
For some reason I thought of
Greg today. I had learned he
had passed away.
We were in the same year at
Stamford Catholic High School.
He was a born leader and a class
“stand out”.
I am very sorry for your loss.
May he continue to rest in
eternal peace.
Sincerely,
Flip Torpey
May 31, 2007
Greg was a lifelong friend and over the years a distant companion. Phone calls with him became conversations with Linda about his illness. She once told me that he was always a gentle person to be with and later to care for.
The gentle thread woven into the fabric of his life combined with a blend of fierce determination, an iron will and unconditional devotion to his wonderful wife and family. He became a husband, a father and a friend whose memory is cherished.
Well Done Greg....
Tom Alfano
May 19, 2007
Greg was a huge part of my life through Catholic High and beyond.Lifeguarding at the Long Ridge Swim and Tennis Club, singing together with Sharky Laureno, Sammy Memoli and Barry Pavia in the "Five Flames." Great, great memories in a very short period of time that still warm the cockles of an ageing heart. I was also one of the lucky ones who walked in his light. He will be missed but dearly remembered.
Tana Sibilio
May 17, 2007
Dear Linda, Greg was such a great guy at Catholic High. We were in a lot of classes together there, and he was so smart! I really got to know him, however,when he was lifeguard at the beach next to my house the summer we graduated. Reading the other messages on this guest book, I can see that as he matured, he simply became more himself: a great guy to the last. God bless you and your children, and God bless Greg. I send my love and sympathy. Sincerely, Tana (Sibilio)
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Sarah Hornig (Cochrane)
January 25, 2007
Dear All,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
God Bless your family.
Thomacina Gray
January 21, 2007
Linda,
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Greg. I am a customer of GE Fleet Services and have such wonderful memories of your husband. He was wonderful to work with and I use to always look forward to meeting to see Greg. Marcia Schroeder has keep me up to date on Greg over the years, he will truley be missed by many. God Bless your family in this time of sorrow.
Loren Rodvold
January 19, 2007
Dear Linda & Family,
I want to share this story about Greg – he was a great guy, respected by many, and he made a difference to all of the people who worked for him at GE Fleet Services – I was one of them. But we also had a common background in the military – I always told him I jumped out of more planes than he did, but I don’t think he believed it one bit!
Greg and I made a trip to Chicago to call on Motorola. It was one of those down in the morning, and back in the afternoon trips – get in, have a meeting, and then get home the same day. That, of course, means that planes have to take off and land on time, and that passengers have to be on board!
Naturally, our meeting went much longer than we had planned, so after we had said our thank you's and goodbyes, we raced for the airport, dropped our rental car, took the bus to the terminal, and ran for our gate.
Unfortunately, we were in the wrong terminal, and in O’Hare, that is a big issue – it’s a long ways to some of the far reaches of those long terminals. So, we are now literally running to catch our plane – minutes to spare.
Greg was always in better shape than most of us, better than me, anyway. So he is running way ahead of me, and I am huffing along in the rear. He stops to wait for me and asks “”Why are you so slow? We’re going to be late!” I said “I’m not slow, I just was watching you, and I think you run like a girl!”
Well, I thought he was going to explode, saying “I ought to whack you for saying that!” I said, "it wouldn’t be right for an ARMY Airborne Ranger Officer to strike an enlisted man, would it?” He started to smile, and I told him that I was probably going to fall over anyway, so off he went again.
The point of this story is that he made the plane, and I barely did because he asked the attendant to hold the door for a little bit longer. The way it turned out, we had a chance after that to compare our memories of time in the service of our country. He was very proud of that, and I got to understand why he was probably a very good officer – he liked what he did, people liked and respected him. Neither of us ever agreed who really jumped out of more airplanes.
I wish you and your family the very best, Linda.
Loren Rodvold
Kristine Engles
January 13, 2007
Dear Linda, Laura, Greg, Dan and Katie,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you you all at this difficult time. May your wonderful memories of Greg bring you comfort.
With deepest sympathy,
Kris, Mike & Pat
Diana (Mason) Dvorak
January 12, 2007
Dear Linda & family:
I have such fond memories of working for Greg at Fleet and am so grateful I got that opportunity. Unfortunately, we'll be out of town and not able to attend the service on Saturday. Please know you're in my thoughts and prayers.
Marlene Robertson
January 11, 2007
Linda, I just heard about Greg and I'm so sorry. My deepest sympathies to you and your family. I truly enjoyed working with Greg for many years at Fleet. See you on Saturday.
Bill Womack
January 11, 2007
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Greg was a wonderful mentor to me during my days at GE - a mentor who i always felt was watching out to do the right thing. He was a wonderful man. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Tom, Kathy, Adam, & Eric Schwebach
January 10, 2007
Dear Linda, Laura, Greg, Dan, and Katie:
We were very sad to learn about your loss. Please accept our sincere condolences during this difficult time. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Tiffany Blodgett
January 9, 2007
Wilkes family -
I am sorry to hear about your loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers today and everyday.
Jenny Wilson
January 4, 2007
Dear Linda, Greg, Laura, Dan and Katie,
I know I will see you all and talk to you on Sunday, but I just wanted to write in this to say that I have been praying for Greg for many years now. I love you all and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Leiza Brock
January 3, 2007
I'll never forget how gracious Greg was to me when I moved from GE Appliances to GE Capital Fleet Services...his willingness to help me explore options with Fleet Services contributed to the fact that I've had an 18 year career with GE.
I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers during this time.
Marcia Schroeder
January 3, 2007
Linda, Laura,Greg,Danny,and Katy:
It is with great sadness that I learned of Greg's passing. I have wonderful memories of all of you as children growing up in the Olympic Hills house, how much your dad talked about you and how proud he was of each of you. And Linda I remember the trip to Zurich, then to Egypt. Remember the Japanese tourists singing German songs in the restaurant in Zurich and how we laughed? Still one of the best meals we've ever had. Dressing up and riding camels across the desert by moon light in front of the Sphynx and the Great Pyramid, too. A long way from Kanasas, huh, Dorothy?
I remember Greg telling stories about how the two of you met, you a nurse and he a special forces ranger (if I've got the title correct), how you fell in love and got married and how you followed him around, making a home wherever GE moved you, from place to place. He said he didn't know how you did it as the family grew. He admired you for everything you had to go through.
I fondly remember the last time I saw Greg when you and he and I sat in your living room, reminisced and had a glass of wine. In the midst of his disease, he remembered lots of old GE times and we laughed and laughed. He had a twinkle in his eye when he laughed or was up to something. Greg was one of the most honorable business executives I ever worked with. He kept his word, did not have a mean bone in his body and had impeccable integrity. He was a good friend and a good man. Those of us who knew him are better for the experience. He will be missed and fondly remembered by many.
Blessings to you all.
Marcia Schroeder, former co-worker with Greg at GE Capital Fleet Services
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