Greg devoted over 40 years to Lincoln Public Schools, where he didn’t just teach—he inspired. His journey took him from Hawthorne to Kahoe, and finally to Maxey Elementary, where he helped open the school and eventually retired. His classrooms were filled with equal parts learning and laughter, and his legendary “SpongeBob Lab”.
Outside the classroom, Greg found pure joy in youth sports. If there was a field, court, or gym, he was there—usually with a whistle, a clipboard, and likely a Diet Pepsi in hand. He coached all four of his sons, with a mix of strategy, and loud encouragement that somehow always included the phrases, “Hustle up!”, “Put it on the green!”, or “Move your feet!”.
When grandkids came into the picture, Greg gladly took on the unofficial title of “volunteer coach” (or as the refs probably thought, “that one loud grandpa”). He cheered on all five of his grandkids with the same passion and pride that had defined his parenting and always expected a full postgame rundown if he couldn’t attend.
Greg didn’t just love youth sports—he lived them. As President of the YMCA Youth Sports board for over 30 years, he shaped more than just game schedules; he helped build a community where kids could grow, compete, and belong.
Greg is survived by his high school sweetheart and devoted wife, Sheri, his four sons —Kyle (wife Jessi), Aaron (wife Shannon), Curtis (wife Sydney), and Austin— and five grandkids,
Chase and Trey (Kyle & Jessi) and Miller, Jones, and Foster (Aaron & Shannon) who will carry his stories, his laughter, and likely his love for Circus Peanuts, Peeps, and the Knicks into the next generation.
He will be remembered for his huge heart, his booming voice across ball fields, and his unwavering belief that every kid deserved a teacher, coach or person who believed in them. His legacy is one of service, compassion, and always showing up.
The family invites all who knew and loved him to a Celebration of Life at the Lincoln Firefighter’s Reception Hall (241 Victory Ln, Lincoln, NE 68528) on Wednesday April 16th from 6:00pm-9:00pm.
Please dress in casual attire, with a special emphasis on the things Greg loved most: the Nebraska Cornhuskers, YMCA Youth Sports, Lincoln Public Schools and SpongeBob SquarePants.
All are invited to laugh, cry, and share a story about a man who made the world better—one student, one team, one hug at a time.
In honor of Greg’s life and legacy, in lieu of flowers, the family kindly invites you to consider making a donation to one of the organizations that were especially meaningful to him, the Lincoln YMCA Strong Kids Campaign and the LPS Backpack Program.
Your support will help continue the work and values that Greg held dear — making a difference in the world, just as he did in the lives of everyone he touched.