DeRoy K. Gregg

DeRoy K. Gregg, 88, of Ponca, NE passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, IA.A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3:30 P.M. on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church in Ponca, NE with Rev. Lorri Kentner officiating. Visitation with the family present will be held from 1:00 P.M. until the service time at the church on Saturday. Private family burial will be held at Silver Ridge Cemetery at a later date with military rites by the Ponca American Legion Post 117. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca.DeRoy "Its" was born on October 1, 1926 at home in Cedar County near Wynot, NE. He was one of 12 children born to Samuel and Myrtle (Gray) Gregg. He grew up in the Wynot, Newcastle, Maskell areas. He attended school in a one room country school and then continued his education in Newcastle.He farmed prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army, where he served his country during World War II. He was stationed at Fort Robinson, NE where he broke horses for the Army and also guarded the German prisoners housed there. He then was sent to Japan for the rest of his tour. He served his country for two years before back injuries sent him home with an Honorable Discharge. He was awarded the WWII Victory Medal. After returning he went back into farming and also raised cattle and hogs for several years. He traveled many miles buying and selling cattle and spent many hours at the Yankton Sale Barns in Yankton, SD and the Laurel Sale Barn in Laurel, NE. He was well known for his bidding tactics and his upping bids so the other bidders would have to pay a bit more. He loved the cattle business. During his farming years he served on the Dixon County Conservation Board and the rural School Dist. #19 School Board. He then worked for Boyer Valley Fertilizer before retiring and moving into Ponca.DeRoy married Della Lich in 1947 and with this union of 33 years three daughters were born, Gloria, Gail and Lori. Della passed away in 1980. DeRoy later married Peggy (Wilson) and to this union the youngest daughter, Samantha joined the family. "Sam", as Dad would call her, was named after DeRoy's father, Samuel.He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Ponca, Ponca American Legion Post 117 and Disabled American Veterans. He enjoyed playing a good game of Euchre, with a good hearted bluff during the games. He liked to travel (only to hurry and get there, stay a day or two, and hurry home). He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and watching them grow into successful adults.Survivors include his wife, Peggy Gregg of Ponca, NE; daughters Gloria (Jim) Meyer of Fort Calhoun, NE, Lori (Jay) Seefus of Fort Calhoun, NE, and Samantha (Clark) VonHagel of Oceanside, CA; son-in-law, Lou (Marilee) Benscoter; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sisters, June Foley of Omaha, NE, Darlene Ritter of Lincoln, NE and Myrtle Seick of Ohio; and many nieces and nephews.DeRoy was preceded in death by his wife, Della; his parents, Samuel and Myrtle; daughter, Gail Benscoter; sister, Sylvia Nelson, brothers, Merle "Buck", Jessie "Schoonie", Eldon "Doss", Rex "Curly", Wayne "Slick", Willard "Sarge", and an infant brother, Delroy.