Gregory Joseph Kaiser

Gregory Joseph Kaiser, 86, died on Thursday, May 1 at home, Peoria, Illinois under the care of his wife, Leslie who was by his side. Cause of death was a heart attack from progressive heart failure.

He was a loving father to Kurt and Kristine, and his pre-deceased children Timothy and Sarah. He is survived by his sisters Judie O'Bryan, Shirley (Darryl) Proctor and his predeceased sister Diane Reding. Greg leaves behind nephews Robert Reding, John (Leandra) Reding, Joe (Shelly) Reding, Paul Agosta, Andrew (Courtney) Proctor, Christopher Proctor, David (Faith) Proctor, and niece Andrea Agosta.

Greg was born in Detroit, Michigan on Jan 19, 1939 to the late Helen (nee O'Bryan) and Jospeh Kaiser. He graduated from Bentley High School, Livonia, then earned a BA and MA in Chinese and Japanese History from University of Michigan. He was an active member of Delta Chi during and after college. Always the independent, he worked his way through college by digging graves and landscaping at Parkview Memorial. He pursued PhD studies in Chinese history, politics, and economics at University of Chicago, including one year as a Fulbright Fellow in advanced Chinese language studies at the Stanford Center in Taipei, Taiwan. His full-time teaching career began at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois where he created the Asian Affairs Program. He guided talented students to fulfilling careers. He was especially proud of four who were undefeated champions on the College Quiz Bowl.

As his doctoral dissertation interest waned, he turned to the more dynamic founding of the Asia Group in 1976, a consulting firm whose clients wished to do business in China as it began opening to the West, including Caterpillar, John Deere, Universal Oil Products, GE, and Honeywell. The Group also trained bankers from the Regional Banks Association of Japan to do business in the U.S. as Japanese investments in the U.S. grew. The required trips to China and Japan gave him great satisfaction as he built the business.

He was especially fond of children and animals, and was an avid viewer of nature shows.

Greg’s passion for swimming kept him young, and many colleagues at Bradely and the athletic club asked for pointers. An avid landscaper, trimming trees and grooming bonsai-type evergreens in his yard almost daily, he also raised roses and hibiscus.

Visitation is on May 10th at 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM at Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 South Main Street Plymouth, MI. Burial immediately follows at Parkview Memorial, 34205 Five Mile Rd., Livonia. Lunch is at Golden Palace, 29583 Five Mile Rd, Livonia.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. May is Cystic Fibrosis Month. 

There is a ONE TIME option.   Cystic Fibrosis