GLOUCESTER: Donald E. Greeke, 69, of Elizabeth Road died at home surrounded by his family on Friday, July 20, 2012, following a courageous battle with cancer. It was the eve of his 70th birthday. He was the beloved husband of Ann (Ward) Greeke.
Born in Gloucester on July 21, 1942, he was the son of the late Dell E. and Martha (Koski) Greeke. He was a lifelong resident of Gloucester and graduate of the Gloucester High School class of 1960. One month after graduating, Don was inducted into the U.S. Air Force and he served in Korea. He was honorably discharged in April of 1965.
Subsequently, Don returned to Gloucester to work with his father at the Independent Machine Shop and for the last thirty years he had been employed as a machinist and welder at Bomco, Inc. Ultimately, he retired on November 11, 2011 due to his illness.
Don loved spending time at the beach, boating and walking the boulevard. He was Gloucester’s biggest fan. You would often hear him say how beautiful his Gloucester was and that it was God’s country. He loved giving his Southern relatives and friends the twenty-five cent tour.
A longtime active member of the Assembly of God Church, he personally welded the foundation of the church during the building process. Don’s abounding faith led him to become a missionary for Jesus. Where ever he found himself, be it at a hospital, a local store or even a yard sale, he literally passed out hundreds of copies of “The Late Great Planet Earth.” Having done so, he changed many peoples’ lives. He will be sadly missed by his family and many dear friends.
In addition to his wife, Ann, with whom he celebrated his 48th wedding anniversary in June, he is survived by his son, William D. and daughter-in-law, Maria (Melo) Greeke; two grandchildren, Joshua and Mallory who he adored; his mother-in-law, Sallie Connor; his special niece, Carrie, whom he and Ann raised since the age of eleven, wife of Christopher Michaud of Texas; and their children, Casey, Aaron and Nikia; sister-in-law, Carol Maciel of Texas; his siblings, Sandra, wife of the late Joseph Guelpa, Peter, husband of Billie Ann Greeke, Paul, husband of Kathy Greeke, Sheila, wife of Adelard “Bo” Danjou, and Daniel, husband of Joan Greeke. He also leaves many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his sister, Linda E. Baptiste and his father-in-law, J.W. Ward.
Visiting hours will be held in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester on Tuesday from 5 – 8 p.m. His funeral service will be held at the Assembly of God Church, 211 Washington Street, Gloucester on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Interment will be held in the Dolliver Memorial Cemetery, 13-15 Lincoln Street (off Essex Avenue) West Gloucester. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.