Gregory Lee “Greg” Niewendorp was born on May 26, 1952, at Primghar, IA to Byron and Geraldean “Jeri” (Bergeman) Niewendorp. His early life was spent on a farm east of Melvin, IA along with his sister, Christy. Greg received his education at Melvin Community School, graduating with the class of 1970.
Following high school, Greg attended Northern Michigan University at Marquette, MI where he earned his teaching degree. His student teaching term took him to St. Lawrence Island off the coast of Alaska. He returned to Michigan and taught there for 2 years.
Always passionate about nature and the responsibility we each have in maintaining our resources, Greg took time to help plant trees for the National Forest Service in Mississippi.
On August 5, 1979, he was united in marriage to Marlene “Marley” Schneider of Traverse City, MI. To this union, three children were born: Emily, Joseph, and Claire. The family lived near Houghton, MI for a time, then moved to East Jordan, MI.
Greg had a keen interest in how things had been done in the past – he loved learning new skills to accomplish such things as building a log cabin and running his own sawmill, to farming with horses and breeding his own line of grass-fed cattle.
In 2008, he moved to Tazewell, VA to continue raising his cattle and taking in the beautiful scenery while riding motorcycle through the mountain roads.
On Sunday, June 27, 2021, Greg passed away at his farm near Bandy, VA at the age of 69 years. His final resting place is at Maplewood Cemetery near Tazewell, VA. Preceding him in death were his grandparents: Ben and Val Niewendorp of Sanborn, IA, and Edmund and Dorthea Bergeman of Ashland, WI; aunts: Sharon Lewis Scott and Fanny Bergeman; uncles: Maurice Lewis and Ken Scott.
Those left to treasure his memory are his children: Emily and her husband, Danny Garcia and their son, Arthur all of Brooklyn, NY, Joseph and his wife, Melanie Niewendorp of Brooklyn Center, MN, and Claire and her husband, Burket Kniveton and their son, Bjorn all of Whitefish, MT; his former wife, Marley Niewendorp of East Jordan, MI; parents, Byron and Geraldean “Jeri” Niewendorp of Sanborn, IA; one sister, Christy and her husband, Fred Year of Melvin, IA; niece, Anna and her husband, Adam Hibbing and their son, Owen of Paullina, IA; nephew, James Year of Syracuse, NY; one uncle, Richard Bergeman of Priest River, ID; several cousins, other relatives and many friends.
A Memorial Service for both Jeri and Greg was held Saturday, September 4 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hartley, Iowa with Pastor Chris Nitzel officiating.
Songs of Praise were “Nearer My God To Thee,” “I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry” and “Amazing Grace.” The organist was Donna Ahlers.