John Bennett Gregg - Obituaries - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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John Bennett Gregg Thursday Aug 11, 2016 at 2:00 AM March 11, 1936 - August 4, 2016 John Bennett Gregg, 80, passed away Thursday, August 4, 2016 in Medford, Ore. following an extended illness. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., the son of Lester and Mary Gregg (née Hedges), he eventually moved to San Jose, Calif. After graduating from Bellarmine College Preparatory High School, he studied business at San Jose State College, leaving school just short of receiving his bachelor degree to join Ryan and Sons Sporting Goods as a full-time sales representative.  In July 1957, John married Florence Jean Cowell in Carmel, Calif. Together 25 years, they had five children within six years. In the early 1960s John started his first sporting goods business in the Bay Area, Valley Athletic Supply. John often worked seven days a week and his children remember keeping their father company at the store on many Sundays while he built the business. In 1971 John moved his family to the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon, settling in Central Point. He opened a new sporting goods store, Cascade Athletic Supply in Medford, which he operated for 45 years. Cascade Athletic specializes in providing athletic team equipment to schools and sports leagues. Through the years John employed hundreds in the community, including his children and grandchildren, some of whom still work at the store. In August 1986, John married Juliette Desrosiers (née Brouwer) in Medford. He was a loving, loyal, and devoted husband for 30 years until his death. They shared a wonderful life together, taking many road trips through Arizona, Utah, and their home in Sunriver, with frequent visits to children, grandchildren, and other relatives. John was known for his strong work ethic, integrity, quick humor, and love of most sports, especially golf. He held memberships at Mirabel Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. and Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Ore. The golf course was his favorite place to be besides the store and with his family. John contributed to many organizations through the years, such as the Medford Food Project, Children's Nurturing Center, Shriner's Hospital, and Humanitarian Aid. He also served as Chair on the Saint Mary's High School Board in the mid 1980s. John is survived by Juliette Gregg; his daughters, Linda Gregg (Jim Brock), Diane Gregg, and Peggy Madden (née Gregg); sons, Bob Gregg (Laura Curran) and Jim Gregg (Chris); stepdaughters, Amelene South (David), Michelle Desrosiers (Alfred Henes), Nicole Carter (Donald), and Jennifer Garrison (Michael); 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren;  father-in-law, Herman Brouwer; three sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Les and Mary; sister, Jeanne Akin; brother, Joe Gregg (Eva); and mother-in-law, Pauline O. Brouwer. The family wishes to extend immense gratitude to John's primary caregiver, Jason "Cedar" Miller, at Jade Mountain Medicine in Ashland, and all of his staff, for their loving and compassionate service to John. The countless hours Jason spent researching and developing personal treatments for John will never be forgotten. The family also wishes to thank Dr. Kent Dauterman and his staff at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center for the care and compassion shown during the late stages of John's illness. A service will be held in John's honor at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 13, 2016, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2900 Juanipero Way, Medford, Ore. He will be laid to rest at Siskiyou Memorial Park, assisted by Perl Funeral Home. Remembrances may be made to Myeloma Institute for Research & Therapy, 324 Jack Stephens Drive, Little Rock Ark. 72205 and Jade Mountain Medicine, 190 Oak Street, Ashland Ore. 97520.