Thomas “Tom” Stewart Gregg, Jr.

Thomas “Tom” Stewart Gregg, Jr., age 82, passed away on June 21, 2022 at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana with his son Kevin and daughter Iklil beside him. He was born on July 25, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska the son of Thomas Stewart “Stu” and Hazel Francis (Larson) Gregg.

Tom grew up in Portland, Oregon where his parents moved when he was two years old. He graduated from David Douglas High School in Portland in 1957 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in February 1958. He became a bombing Navigation System Technician and mostly worked on the B-52 Bomb Navigation System and AN/APS-64 airborne radar system. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in June 1962.

Upon discharge, Tom worked as an electronics equipment specialist first at McClellan AFB in California and then at Air Force Acquisition Logistics Center at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. Continuing his career with the U.S. Air Force he was promoted to Logistics Management Specialist at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio.

While continuing on a career path with the Air Force, Tom also continued with his education receiving his B.S. degree in Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento, CA in 1972 and his M.S. degree in Acquisition Logistics Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio in 1981. In 2004, Tom went on to add an AA degree in Computer Programming from Pierce College in Lakewood, WA to his list of educational achievements.

In 1984, Tom left the U.S. Air Force to work for BDM Corporation as Logistics Manager, followed by employment in the same capacity with Systems Research Laboratories, Inc., RJO Enterprises and INNOLOG, Inc., all in Ohio. He worked as an Integrated Logistics Support Analysis Consultant in Spokane, WA and Logistics Management Consultant to Sierra Nevada Corporation in Sparks, NV.

Tom and Canan (Jan) Cem were married on June 20, 1964 in Sacramento, CA. They had two children, Kevin Cem Gregg and Iklil Julie Gregg and have four grandchildren, Ian Cem Nye, Ayla Rose Nye, Mina Gregg and Mariam Gregg.

Tom is survived by his wife of 58 years, his children and grandchildren, his brother Brian Patrick Gregg of Bakersfield, CA; former daughter-in-law Meltem Gregg of Salem, OR; and, Iklil Gregg’s fiancée Tony Lane of Bremerton, WA.

Tom’s grandfather William A. Gregg had moved to Polson from Michigan in the early 1900’s and was one of the founders of the First Presbyterian Church in Polson. Tom’s father, his paternal aunt, and all his paternal uncles were born in Montana. His mother was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Tom was truly a child of the West; he loved the Rocky Mountains, wilderness, and wide-open spaces. He enjoyed canoeing, boating, hiking, traveling, tinkering with mechanical objects, classical music and being with his family. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He also believed in giving back to his community and in 2010 received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for being a full-time foster grandparent for five years working with 2nd graders at Linderman Elementary School where he was known as Grandpa Tom.

Tom had an independent spirit and mischievous sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by his family. A private graveside service is planned on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 at Lake Cemetery in Polson.