Claudis Lee Greer Jr.

Claudis " Claude" Lee Greer, Jr., a resident of Delphi and West Lafayette, Indiana, peacefully passed away surrounded by the love of his family at his daughter's home in West Lafayette on October 13, 2025, at the age of 81, after a long, courageous struggle with the adverse effects of exposure to Agent Orange.
Claude was born on October 4, 1944, in Danville, Illinois, to Claudis L. and Goldie E. (Mourer) Greer, Sr. He grew up in the Danville area and graduated with the class of 1962 from Bismarck-Henning High School in Bismarck, Illinois. Claude enlisted in the Army of the United States in February 1964, serving as a helicopter mechanic, and saw active duty in the Republic of Vietnam. During his time in the Army, Claude was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Aircraft Crewman Badge, Marksman Marksmanship Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar, Valorous Unit Award, Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, and Republic of Vietnam Medal with Device, and Purple Heart Medal for wounds received during a bombing in Saigon on February 10, 1965. He honorably discharged in January 1970, having attained the rank of Specialist Five (E-5). Claude was then employed for several years at Harrison Steel Casting Company in Attica, Indiana. In 1977, he started working at A. E. Staley Manufacturing's Lafayette South Plant (later Tate & Lyle) as an Instrument Technician and worked there until his retirement due to disability in 2008. Claude had a number of hobbies over the years: flying radio-controlled airplanes, building computers, tinkering with his tractors & mowers. He enjoyed the challenge of taking motors apart, putting them back together, and getting them to perform better than they ever had before. Claude was especially gifted at working with his hands and often sported a number of scraped knuckles or "small" cuts on his fingers.
Claude considered his greatest accomplishments to be the births of his six daughters. He is survived by five of his daughters: Kristina (Michael) Serra of West Lafayette, Indiana, and Melissa Mounce of Delphi, Indiana, in whose homes he lived for the past 10 years; Brennan (Rob) Lindamood of Attica, Indiana; Amy (Darron) Stante of Indianapolis, Indiana; and Jaida Greer of Crawfordsville, Indiana. Fourteen grandchildren: Megan (Brandon) Mitchell, Josh (Olivia) and Levi Lindamood; Benjamin (Nacketa) and Abigail Serra; Ross and Parker Stante; Isaac (Miranda) and Isabella Mounce; Madison Greer; Braxton Greer, Kenzie, Briella, and Kaidan Greer-Bender. Nine great-grandchildren: Joseph and Jeremiah Mitchell; Bentley Alexander-Lindamood, Leroy and Lainey Lindamood; Micah Johnson, Jr.; Andres, Henley, and Isla Greer-Bender; and a Serra great-grandson due in 2026. Two step-great-grandchildren: Austin and Dallas Mitchell. A sister: Vicki (Merv) Johnson of Oakwood, Illinois. Two brothers: Donald (Karen) Greer of St. Louis, Missouri and Larry (Gloria) Greer of Lusby, Maryland. In addition, many extended family members and numerous friends. Claude was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Rebecca Greer; and former wife and mother of his daughters, Judith DeZarn.
Visitation will be held at Soller-Baker Funeral Home, 400 Twyckenham Blvd., Lafayette, Indiana, on Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. until the time of services at 2:00 p.m. immediately followed by burial with full military honors in the IOOF Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 10049-10073 US 421, Delphi, Indiana next to his daughter, Rebecca. Details regarding a gathering of family and friends to be held immediately following the burial service will be available at the funeral home.
The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to all of Claude's healthcare providers, especially Dr. Keven Dodt's office in Lafayette and the VA Green Team in Danville, for providing exceptional care; to his many caregivers over the years, but especially to Jen Harper-Sowers, who provided excellent care for over four years and who became like another daughter to Claude, she called him "Sally" and he called her "George;" and to the entire staff of Franciscan Hospice Care in Lafayette for providing compassionate care that enabled Claude to remain at home and comfortable until his passing and also for the ongoing support offered to the entire family during this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund's In Memory Program,1530 Wilson Blvd., Suite 550, Arlington, VA 22209, which enables the families of those who came home from Vietnam but later died as a result of their service the opportunity to have them be forever memorialized. Please indicate "Claudis L. Greer, Jr." as the Honoree. The family hopes to have him inducted into the In Memory Honor Roll at the In Memory Ceremony on Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Washington, DC.