Obit: Gray, Victor A. (1945 - 2012)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Gray, Rippentrop, Grabowski, Kommer, Tesky

----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 06/21/2012

Gray, Victor A. (29 SEP 1945 - 15 JUN 2012)

Victor "Vic" Arnold Gray, 66, of Greenwood, passed away unexpectedly Friday, June 15, 2012, while working with his tractor. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 22, 2012, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenwood, with Fr. Joseph Follmar officiating. Visitation will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Thursday, June 21, 2012 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again on Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Victor A. Gray was born on September 29, 1945, in Bancroft, Iowa, to Alvin A. and Irene (Rippentrop) Gray. He started his education in a one-room school house in Titonka, Iowa. He moved to Chili, WI with his family in 1959 and graduated from Marshfield High School in 1963.

Victor was a bright man excelling in his career in the insurance industry. He founded the Vic Gray Insurance Agency, moved on to co-own the Clark County Insurance Agency, he then became the CEO of McMillan-Warner Mutual Insurance Company in Marshfield, and finally retired as the State Marketing Director for Mount Morris Insurance Company of Coloma, WI. His wisdom and insurance insight will be missed, as he was well known and highly respected in his field.

Victor married the love of his life, Victoria Mae Grabowski, on July 4, 1970, at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Chili, WI. They moved to Greenwood, in December 1970 and raised their family. Victor was a devoted husband and a proud father and grandfather.

He loved sports and pitched pumpkin ball, slow and fast pitch softball, threw horseshoe, bowled, and was known as "Gunner Gray" in basketball. Aside from sports, he reveled in hunting, fishing, "putzing in his shop", and politics - the more lively the debate the better. Vic enjoyed his hobby farm, at one point raising pigs and chickens, but mostly, he enjoyed the produce from the big garden he and Vicki tended.

Vic was currently serving on the Clark County Board of Supervisors. He was also a Charter member of the Greenwood Lions, a former member of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and the Owen Masonic Lodge, and a chairman for the Greenwood Centennial.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Victoria, and his three children, Melody Gray of Bloomer; Matthew (Lynette) Gray of Chili; and Amber Gray of Madison; two grandchildren, Autumn and Mason; two sisters, Virginia (Norman) Kommer of Marshfield; Roberta (Dale) Tesky of Mosinee; three brothers, Douglas (Jeanne) Gray of Marshfield; Randall (Janell) Gray of Watertown; Dean (Dan Wilch) Gray of New York, N.Y.; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.

Cuddie Funeral Home, of Greenwood, is assisting the family with arrangements.