Greg Christ

Gregory John Christ was born on January 22, 1948 in Pipestone, Minnesota to Ralph and Phyllis (Drahein) Christ. As a young child, Greg lived in Florida and Westbrook, Minnesota before returning to Pipestone. Greg was active in the Boy Scouts and played tuba in the Pipestone High School band. His family was also active in the Hiawatha Pageant. Greg loved music and taught guitar lessons in his teenage years and was a member of a rock band called the Rebels. During that time, he also worked at UBC. Greg graduated from Pipestone High School in 1966. Following high school, he went to broadcasting school at Brown’s Institute in Minneapolis and then took a year of electronics training at Elkins Institute of Electronics. Greg was then employed as a broadcaster for KLOH, KSOO, KISD, and KMHL as well as an advertising manager by the Pipestone County Star. Greg married his high school sweetheart, Julie Wabeke, on March 2, 1968. The young couple lived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota following their marriage. They then returned to Pipestone and Greg worked at KLOH and was known as John E. Greg. He also began working as a reserve police officer. His experience with law enforcement lead to a career change, and Greg became a police officer for the city of Pipestone in 1975. He served the city for 22 and a half years as a patrolman, captain and acting chief of police. During these years, Greg accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at a Lowell Lundstrom Crusade in Pipestone. Did we mention he loved music? He became a member of a Christian band named One Accord; along with several other praise bands. Greg was baptized as an adult believer with his teenaged son, Joel, at Split Rock Creek Park in Ihlen, Minnesota. As Greg’s children grew, he became active in their activities, especially band, serving as a band board member and chaperone on many of their trips. The city’s police department was eliminated in 1997, so Greg began his career as a coach/school bus driver for Ludolph Bus Services. He enjoyed watching the children he transported grow, and worked with a terrific group of coworkers. Greg also got to enjoy many country roads and scenes on his drive. Greg continued to work for Ludolph until the last day of school in 2019.

Greg was a servant to his community. He served as president of the Golden Club, was very active in AWANA, loved playing his bass guitar in the orchestra during the annual Performing Arts Center productions, and his most cherished musical commitment was to the Worship Team of Faith Community Church. Greg fought a two year battle with cancer and finally has rest at last.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Julie of Pipestone; four children, Jodi Hager of Balaton, Minnesota, Stephanie Nwala of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Ryan (Maggie Hysjulien) Christ of Rosemount, Minnesota, and Briana (Darell) Stahl of Bridgewater, South Dakota; daughter-in-law, Lynn Christ of Ramsey, Minnesota; grandchildren, Miriah (Hager) Rajaguru, MaKayla Christ, McKenna Christ, Chidi Nwala, Brielle Stahl, David Stahl, Daniel Stahl, Karlee Stahl; step great-grandson, Jacoby Johnson; brother, Mark (Colleen) Christ of Surprise, Arizona; brothers and sisters-in-law, Linda (Gary) Lee of Watertown, South Dakota, Kathy (Dale) Serie of Arlington, Texas, Jerry (Rose) Wabeke of Kevin, Montana, Joan (Bill) Schulze of Sioux Falls, and Steven (significant other Kathy) Wabeke of Pipestone; nieces and nephews; and many other loving friends and family members. Greg was preceded in death by his son, Joel; his parents; and his mother-in-law, Betty Wabeke.