Donald James Greig

Donald James Greig was born November 24, 1920 in Pine City, Minnesota and was the youngest of seven children born to Major and Fredereka (Kenna) Greig. He attended the Rock Lake District No. 77 rural school located east of Pine City, and then Pine City High School.  He met Dorothy Karas while in high school and through local 4-H activities. At the age of 17, Donald enlisted in the National Guard of Pine City. He left for training in Louisiana with the Guard and before he shipped out overseas, married Dorothy on July 12, 1943 in Pine City. He was deployed to Africa and later moved with the 995th Field Artillery to Italy. He was part of a group laying communication wire on a mountain top just north of Naples, a strategic point for the American forces. In October, 1945 at the end of the war, Sgt. Donald J. Greig returned home.He and Dorothy resided in Wyoming, Minnesota for a short time while Donald worked for the Tyra Company and later sold Electrolux vacuum cleaners. Their daughter, Janice, was born there and they soon moved to the Greig farm located southeast of Pine City. Their son, Jim, was born during this time. Later they moved to the farm of Dorothy’s parents, A. M. Karas, and began farming in earnest.Throughout his farming career, Donald milked Holstein cows, grew cash crops and purchased additional acreage. Their daughter, Kathleen, and son, Bob, were born during this time. There was little time for hunting and fishing trips, but he and Dorothy enjoyed short trips to visit family in Wisconsin and the west when their children were old enough to take care of the farm for a few days. Donald’s passions were hunting and fishing. After his son, Bob and his wife Michele, took over the farm operation, Donald and Dorothy purchased a motor home and enjoyed several fishing trips to northern Minnesota, Canada, and Alaska with family and friends. Each November was another chapter in the family deer hunting log. Donald enjoyed hunting with his dad and brothers in earlier years, and then sons, daughters, and grandchildren in later years. In 1984, Donald and Dorothy retired to their present home just a quarter mile from their farm. He and Dorothy enjoyed a trip to Europe, retracing his journey during World War II. His struggle with diabetes for 48 years limited his travels and eventually motor home was sold. In later years he enjoyed watching the Twins on television, visits with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He loved to hear about what each was doing and to watch the farming operation going on around him. Donald died March 26, 2009 at the Lakeside Medical Center in Pine City at the age of 88 years. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children: Janice (Robert) Erickson of Deerwood, MN, Jim (Marietta) Greig of Buffalo, MN, Kathleen (Bob) Sanford of St. Cloud, MN, Bob (Michele) Greig of Pine City; grandchildren: Jason (Kari) Erickson, Jared (Jodie Peterson) Erickson, Major Greig, Brian (Cynthia) Kirchberg, Julie (Chris) Laxson, Jill (Drew Langston) Kirchberg, Jena Greig, and Ashley Greig; great grandchildren: Logan, McKenna, Noah, Holden, Joey, Timmy, Jaydie, and Aaliyah; sisters-in-law: Irene Hudak of St. Paul, MN, Delores Karas of Rush City, MN, and Shirley Karas of Pine City. He was preceded in death by his parents Major and Fredereka Greig, sisters Helen Healy, Florence Grove, Jessie Schmidt, and Eunice Greig; and brothers Clair and George Greig. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Monday, March 30, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church in Pine City with the Reverend David Maghakian officiating. Interment is at the Birchwood Cemetery in Pine City with military honors provided by the Heath-Perkins American Legion Post #51. Arrangements are entrusted to the Swanson Funeral Chapel of Pine City.