Gregory Lee "Greg" Hirsch

1953 - 2024

Gregory "Greg" Lee Hirsch

October 4, 1953 - October 16, 2024

Gregory "Greg" Lee Hirsch of Waunakee, WI, died peacefully at his home on October 16, 2024 at the age of 71. Born on October 4, 1953 in Boscobel, WI and raised in Madison and Blue Mounds, Greg was "one of those Hirsch boys", rambunctious but polite, who as a child and young man loved sports, especially baseball.

Upon his graduation from Mount Horeb High School in 1971, Greg enlisted in the United States Navy. Following completion of his training as a Surface Sonar Technician (STG), Greg was assigned to the frigate USS Brewton and homeported at Pearl Harbor. His service during the Vietnam War aboard Brewton took him throughout the Western Pacific, with numerous ports of call in East and Southeast Asia. Greg was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1975, having attained the rank of Petty Officer Second Class (STG2).

With his Navy commitment completed and his wanderlust temporarily satiated, Greg packed his now infamous 'Signal Orange' Volkswagen Beetle and returned to the Madison, WI area. He reclaimed his passion for baseball, joining the Ashton A's as a catcher and outfielder in the Home Talent league and settled in Waunakee to start a family. After his knees gave out and he was forced to 'hang 'em up', Greg continued to enjoy playing slow pitch softball, bowling, and frequenting Home Talent baseball games and his favorite haunts. For the majority of his career, Greg worked in the lumber industry (Fish Building Company, Georgia Pacific, and Marling Lumber Company) before concluding his professional life as a security officer for Scientific Protein Laboratories in Waunakee.

Greg will be remembered as a man of many contradictions to those who knew him well and as an enigma to most of the acquaintances he collected during the labyrinth of his life. He spun a good yarn with his wit and wry sense of humor, often hiding his wisdom within riddles and sometimes ridicule.

He is survived by his children, Adam Hirsch and Erin (Brett) Somers; grandchildren Josephine, Soren, Clyde and Adeline; siblings Stephen, Michael, Marcia (Chuck) Christy, and Dianne; many nieces and nephews; and many more grandnieces and grandnephews. Greg was preceded in death by his parents, Keith and Evalyn Hirsch.

A celebration of life will be held at Waun-A-Bowl (301 South Century Avenue, Waunakee, Wisconsin 53597) on Friday, November 22 from 2pm to 6pm. Brief remarks will be delivered at 5:15pm. Gone but never to be forgotten, our memories of Greg will lovingly carry forth. Please join us to say "aloha" one final time.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy and appreciation of Greg's life to consider making a donation to the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, Fisher House Wisconsin, or Disabled American Veterans (DAV).