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We are together today to honor the memory of Gale Victor Gregg. Gale never married so he didn't have children of his own. I'm told that there was a girl that he was going to marry while he was still in the army but for some reason she changed her mind. I've often thought that because he didn't have children, he put more effort into building relationships with his nieces and nephews, than the average uncle may have done.

After Grandma and Grandpa Gregg died, Gale continued to live at the old farmhouse with Jim and Phyllis. When the farmhouse was sold, Gale moved in with us. One of my earliest memories of Gales transition from the farmhouse, to our house, was being awakened about 11:30 PM by the sound of Dad's table saw starting. Dad had built a nice set of bunk beds in the corner of the basement for Kenny and I. Gale would show up, hours after we had went to bed and begin working with what ever tools he needed. That could be the table saw, the drill press, the grinder, or some highly flammable liquid. Keep in mind that these tools were only a few feet from our bed and the gas furnace was right next to the area that Gale would be working. I'm sure the sound of a huge explosion was never far from Dad's thoughts.

Gale had many special talents, certainly not the least of them, was his ability as a marksman. Hunting season meant weekly trips to Danville, Ohio, where everyone would have a great time trying to shoot as much game as Gale. Gale would always make the same challenge at the beginning of every hunt. "Who ever shoots the most rabbits has to buy the milkshakes". I don't recall anyone but Gale ever buying the milkshakes. A story that Gale loved to tell was his chance meeting of the United States Armies pistol-shooting champion. Apparently Gale met this fellow at a gun show in Old Washington. Gale told him that he could pick up any stock 45 off of the tables at the show and out shoot the army champ. The army accepted the challenge and in Gales words he beat the SOB so bad the guy was traumatized.

Everyone who knew Gale was aware of what a "Ham and Egger" was. We also were familiar with terms like, "Your gonna live until you die", "That Pot Licker", "I shot a hell of a bargain", "How the hell did you get so stupid?" . The special thing about Gale was that these phrases were never really derogatory to those they were aimed at. He had a humorous way about him that made everyone enjoy his company and his colorful conversation.

Gale was an avid reader and an expert on many subjects. We were all aware of his interests in firearms and fishing. He loved buying cameras and taking pictures. For years he was the official picture taker of the Heller household. We have many slides today because of Gale Gregg. He had a unique way of becoming interested in anything he thought those around him liked. I remember when I was trying to learn to play the guitar; Gale introduced me to many guitar experts and then insured I got the best guitar that money could buy. When I wanted to move from an acoustical guitar to an electric guitar, it was Gale that bought home the guitar. As most of you here can attest, if you told Gale you wanted something, standby because your going to be getting a lot of what ever you asked for, for a long time. At Xmas time those items would often be wrapped in newspaper.

Not many people are aware of the adventures Gale had while serving as a gun crewman in the 845th battalion during WW2. The war didn't stop Gale from spending a day off out in the woods, hunting rabbits and deer. He would often share his game with the local villagers and in some instances; he would give them the whole deer. One time while hunting rabbits in an open field, a German plane spotted him and began shooting at him with their artillery.

I'm going to miss Gale till the day I die. My world will never be the same now that he is gone. Remembering the sound of his laugh will always make me smile. From the time that I was a small boy, to the day when I became an adult and had a family of my own, I always found Gale to be on my side. I knew he was my friend, as well as my uncle and I knew he would go to great lengths to try to make me happy. One of the first vacations I was able to take my family on, was a trip to San Diego, where we rented a small cabin that was built out on a pier. I wanted to make sure that my girls would catch fish during that vacation. My ace in the hole was Gale.

The first thing he brought over was a tackle box with a broken lid. After the box there was a new item added almost daily. Some of the lures were bigger than any fish I've ever caught in my life. Some of the lead sinkers probably weighed a pound each. There were hooks, reels, poles, stringers, knives and a hammer to beat a shark to death if we should catch one. When we arrived at the pier and started to fish, I opened that old tackle box and found an old white envelope in it with Gale's writing. He had drawn a picture and written out the way I should set the girls poles up for bottom fishing, just in case all else failed. His system worked and although the fish weren't large, we had a great time and caught fish.

The last ten months of Gales life were difficult. While I don't believe he was in pain, I know he wasn't happy. His health had deteriorated to the point that he could no longer care for himself. It was sad to see him in the assisted care living quarters at Glencroft. During that time I asked Gale to tell me what his religious beliefs were. I knew that he knew, his time was coming to an end and I thought he might want to talk about the here after. To my surprise, he didn't. It was the only subject that I can ever remember trying to start a conversation with him about, that he wouldn't discuss.

There is a quote from Albert Einstein that goes like this, "A mans ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death". That quote is the sum of Gale. He had a strong will and a disciplined character. He did what was right because he believed it to be right, not because he was in pursuit of a reward.

I was too young to really know my grandparents before they died but when I meet them in the next world, I will certainly thank them for an incredible gift that they gave me. The gift of having Gale Victor Gregg in my life, as the best uncle anyone could ever have!

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A Eulogy For Gale Victor GreggBy Gary Heller

A Eulogy For Gale Victor Gregg
By Gary Heller