William Ely Gregory

William Ely Gregory, age 89, of Green Lake, Wisconsin, and Jupiter, Florida, passed away in comfort and peace, with family present, on August 10, 2026, at his home in Green Lake.

William (Bill) was born on June 16, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, to Earl E. and Annabelle (Carr) Gregory. He had remarkable parents and lived at a time when he could freely ride his bike to Lake Michigan to go fishing, take his dog hunting at O'Hare Field before it became an airport, and play serious games of ice hockey at his neighborhood Gompers Park. He graduated from Mayfair Grammar School and Amundsen High School, where he swam and played varsity football, and was voted "cutest boy" in his senior class. Lifelong friendships began in those schools and particularly formed at "the corner" of Elston and Lawrence. Theirs was a uniquely close group that neither time nor distance could sever.

Bill went on to attend Montana State University (now renamed University of Montana) in Missoula, Montana. After finishing his freshman year, he and his best friend impulsively enlisted in the U.S. Army. At Fort Leonard Wood, Bill received the high firer award out of 1,200 recruits, though he never shot a rifle before boot camp. He and his friend requested overseas duty, preferably Germany, but were sent instead to Korea, shortly after the conflict ended. He always said that changed his life. Seeing the devastation and people living in cardboard boxes, he made up his mind he was going to be a success in life. In less than two years, he was promoted to sergeant. Back in Chicago he continued his schooling at Wright Junior College, then joined the Iron Workers Local Union #1 apprenticeship program. He proudly worked for Gateway Erectors as a journeyman structural ironworker for 35 years, running jobs even as an apprentice and later becoming a general foreman. His tallest job was installing the antenna on the Sears Tower, and the last job he ran before retirement was the control tower at O'Hare International Airport. On the side, Bill was also the general contractor of upscale custom homes, including his own in Lincolnshire Woods and Green Lake. Prior to that, before flipping fixer-uppers became popular, Bill was buying homes, renovating, and reselling.

Bill met his beloved wife, and partner in all things, Barbara (Stumm) in Wheaton, Illinois, when she was student teaching. They were married on July 10, 1965, in Bloomington, Illinois. Their three daughters were born while they lived in the Budlong Woods and Sauganash neighborhoods in Chicago. For better schooling, the family moved to Lincolnshire Woods, Lake Forest, Illinois, in 1980, where the girls all graduated from Adlai E. Stevenson High School. Then, Green Lake became his happy retirement home for thirty years, with winters spent in Jupiter, Florida. Bill was a protective, rather strict father who instilled a strong work ethic in his girls. He was also very encouraging, supportive, loving, generous, and fun. But patient? Never!

Bill was an avid fisherman, water skier, ice skater, boat owner (building his first one as a teenager in his family basement), outstanding bird hunter in partnership with his dog Rhappy, and host extraordinaire. He found joy in helping family and friends with home and landscaping projects. His eyesight was exceptional, and he had the ability to see the big picture and envision a finished product. He became a mentor of sorts to young men in whom he saw potential, encouraging them to seize an opportunity and strive for more in life. He enjoyed his annual family vacations in Lake Kabetogama, Minnesota, and his daily drives around Green Lake.

As a young child, Bill had a vision of Christ while with his mother. His faith has remained steadfast throughout his life, from St. John's Episcopal Church in Chicago to the Federated Church of Green Lake. He was a strong supporter (mostly social) of Barbara's leadership in the choirs of the churches they joined. Their large Christmas celebrations, highlighted by hours of participative carol singing around the piano after dinner, became a beautiful family tradition, once described by an emotional young grand-nephew as "magical." Bill could often be urged on to sit at the piano for his rendition of Sentimental Journey followed by his robust soloing of MacNamara's Band.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Barbara; his daughters, Amy (Mitch) Nedic, Kristin (Lowell Eckstein) Tennant, and Laura Gregory; his grandchildren, Kathryn Tennant and Miles Eli Nedic; and his great-granddaughter Deanna Elise. He is further survived by his niece, Karen (Jeffrey) Warner; nephew, David (Kathleen) Wenner; brother-in-law, Richard Stumm; and his sisters-in-law, Shirley Drobnak and Deborah Stumm; plus his grand-niece, Lauren (Nick); and grand-nephews,Ryan (Kat), Bryce (Ashley), Hank, and Sam. He was a great-great uncle to Grace and Brooks, and the close (in-law) uncle of Jennifer, Robert, and Melissa (Steve). And then there are his great friends. If you were Bill's friend, you were his friend for life. That army best friend, Dave Anderson, remarked during a recent phone call that Bill had been his best friend for 72 years! And Don Sahling, who was in our wedding party 61 years ago, was planning to drive down from Minnesota to say goodbye.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Carol; and brother-in-law, Henry Wenner; his sister-in-law, Sue Stumm; and his beloved granddaughter, Kaeleigh Tennant.

There will be an inurnment service with Rev. Karen Gygax Rodriguez at his columbarium in Dartford Cemetery, 431 South Street, Green Lake, with full military honors, at 12:00 pm (noon) on Sunday, September 6, 2026. A time of food and fellowship will follow in the Sandstone Room at the Heidel House, 653 Illinois Avenue, Green Lake.

Memorials may be made to the GBS/CIDP Foundation, 375 East Elm Street, Suite 101, Conshohocken, PA 19428, or to SSM Hospice Hope, 745 South Street, Suite 4, Green Lake, WI 54941, or to a charity of your choice.