Greg Longpre

T. Gregory “Greg” Longpre, 79, of St. Joseph passed away June 5, 2006 at Lakeland Hospital-St. Joseph. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 10, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, of which he was a member, 211 Church Street, St. Joseph, with Msgrs. Eugene Sears and Thomas Martin as co-celebrants. Committal will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Benton Harbor with graveside military rites being conducted. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 9, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph from 5-8 PM. Rosary will be recited at 7:30 PM. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Kiwanis Club Foundation or Berrien County Cancer Service. Those wishing to share a condolence online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Greg was born October 31, 1926 in Detroit, MI to Eli & Cecilia (Guibard) Longpre. He is a 1944 graduate of St. Joseph Catholic High School and a 1949 graduate of St. Joseph’s College, Rensselaer, IN. He served his country proudly during WWII in the U.S. Army Air Force. He married his wife Betty (Hettig) on June 17, 1989, who survives. Greg enjoyed an active life. He was employed by Pearson Construction for 48 years from July 28, 1949 until his retirement as Administrative Vice-President on December 28, 1997. He was a member of St. Joseph River Yacht Club, Berrien Hills Country Club, the Michigan Chapter of Associated General Contractors, the Knights of Columbus, as well as president of S.W. Michigan Contractors Association. He was member and past president of the St. Joseph Kiwanis Club, management trustee of both Michigan Carpenters Pension Fund and Michigan Laborers Health Care Fund, and a Benton Harbor City Commissioner. Besides his wife, Greg is survived by his children – Gregory T. (Inge) Longpre of Stevensville, Sandra Hopkins and Lynne (Andrew) Rudell both of Benton Harbor, Theresa Meador of Canton, MI, Troy (Mary Anne) Longpre of Mt. Prospect, IL; his step-children – Larry Hettig of St. Joseph and Lisa (Steve) Hartnett of Rockford, MI; thirteen grandchildren – Edward & Eric Rudell, Heather & 2nd Lt. Randall F. Bittner, Michael & Thomas Longpre, Stacy & Andrea Meador, Kristina (Dennis) Barker, Jason Hettig, Joshua, Patrick & Kaitlin Hartnett; great-grandchildren Emma & Caleb Barker. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn A. (Lounsbery) Longpre, in 1986, his father Eli Longpre, in 1964, his mother Cecilia Longpre, in 1969, his daughter Laura M. Longpre, in 1958, his sister Lorraine Hood, in 2001, and his son-in-law Michael Hopkins, in 2005. He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.