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Gregory Whitten

October 12, 1961 - June 7, 2020
Traverse City, MI

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Life Story / Obituary


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Gregory Bernard Whitten, 58, of Traverse City, passed away on Sunday June 7, 2020 after a short battle with cancer.

Greg was born on October 12, 1961 to Tracey and Shirley Whitten (Zeits) at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, MI. He graduated from Traverse City Saint Francis High School in 1980 and then attended Northwestern Michigan College where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Accounting.

Greg was a man who loved his family deeply. He is remembered by his siblings for his tremendous ability to build the best snow fort that would withstand an attack and for spending memorable weekends camping as a family on their Lime Lake property.

After high school and while attending college, Greg worked for the K-Mart Corporation until 1984, when he joined the Sara Lee Corporation where he was employed for 35 years. He worked through several positions and shifts and was working in his current position as a first shift fork lift operator.

Greg enjoyed his home on 10 acres, along with the wildlife, solitude & serenity his wooded property and trout stream provided. He also loved his friends, was friendly to strangers, was easy going, had a sense of humor, loved a good goulash and would offer a kind smile or laugh at some of the simplest things. He was a faithful loving son, stopping by his parents home daily to check on them, visit with them, deliver pies & desserts from Sara Lee or just to mow the lawn. During the winter months he would shovel the walks of snow. He enjoyed following all of Michigan’s professional and collegiate sports teams, particularly the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions.

Greg is preceded in death by his father, Tracey; paternal grandparents, Merle and Ethel; maternal grandparents, Dallas and Evelyn (Zeits) and his Aunt Connie and her husband Richard (Youker).

Greg is survived by his mother, Shirley; siblings, Steve (Carolyn), Mike (Debbie) and Kim; his nephews, Brent (Jennifer), Jason (Kristin); nieces, Brooke, Jessica (Andrew), Jenny (Scott) and Janna (Jake); uncles, Dennis (Pam), Gary (Margaret) and Aunt Sandra as well as many great-nieces, great nephews, cousins and second cousins.

An informal gathering will be held 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 17 at Life Story Funeral Home. Masks are required with social separation and a limit of 50 people in the room at a time while at the funeral home. A memorial Mass will be held 11a.m., Thursday, June 18 at St. Francis Catholic Church; with no visitation before Mass.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, St. Francis Catholic Church, Building Campaign Fund, 1025 S. Union St., Traverse City, MI 49684, Father Fred Foundation, 826 Hasting St. Traverse City, MI 49686 or the Women’s Resource Center, 720 S. Elm St, Suite 2, Traverse City, Michigan 49684.

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