Greg McVay and I were both Cost Center Managers together at Pella Corp (Rolscreen) from 1977 until 1982. We both reported to the same General Foreman and supervised Window Assembly lines that were side by side.

We were not only co-workers but very good friends for those 5 years. I was living in Oregon in 1986 when I got the call about Greg’s death.

Greg was a popular person, and successful manager, respected by the people he supervised, his co-workers, and the upper management also. I was thinking recently about Greg, and how proud he was of his boys, he always showed the latest pictures at our morning Manager’s meeting each morning. I Googled his name & Oskaloosa & hit this site.

So I thought I would leave a tribute.

Greg McVay was a fine individual, the kind of man people would say is “a good guy”. He was always an easy going guy, but if you wanted a good person to be in a fox hole in a war zone with you, Greg was one of those people who would be resolute in any time of adversity where he was present.

Yes, Greg was Good Guy who died way too young.... 

I think back in those days we were on different bowling teams, but we always had a lot of fun when our teams boweled aginst each other.  Sure missed him, still do.  Doc

Greg and I spent several summers in high school as unseperatable.  Greg and I where the same age, but in different classes.  Gregs brother Denny and My brother Art grew up together, got into and out of trouble together, and Graduated together, so it was a natural thing for us.  Not sure Gregs mom agreed but I sure thought a lot of her and Sam.  Those couple of summers when we weren't working we spent our time at lake Keomah and had more fun than two guys ot to of  had.  We also went to Birch Island lake in Wisconsin with My Dad.  My Dad always thought alot of both Denny and Greg and he always referrd to Greg as the "Rasler" because Greg was good at it and talked about it at that time alot.  Then we meet Mary and they asked me to be in there wedding, and I was very proud!.. My Largest regrett about our lives together was that it ended way to fast and abrupt.  I was out of the country with my work and we got the call from the people who where watching our children, that Greg had Died.  Deb and I where shocked of course and really regerted it that we wheren't there at the funeral for all of you.  And yes I do think of him often, he was a great Guy.   When you see him next ask him just how fast your Dads Mercury could get us from Osky to New Sharon.  Tom. 

On one of our hunting trips to Missouri, Greg and I stayed an extra day when everyone else had to return to work. We went to Caseys to get coffee and a donut and on the way back to the camper Greg shouted, "there goes a buck"  and I said "yea a big one." Greg said "where? the one I saw was just a little one." The one on my side of the road was a ten pointer. We basically ran him down and the sun was in my eyes and I said "where's he at"? Greg reached over from the drivers seat and pushed my gun over about six inches so I could see him... and we shot him together... that was just one of our many hunting stories but one I remember well...

My earliest memories of Greg are of him being my protector and 'baby-sitter'.  He watched out for me and I always looked up to him as my big brother, since he was 6 years older.   My first day of grade school at Grant I remember going out to get on the bus.   Mom had coached me how to walk to Don's Diner if I ever got left there.  Greg was supposed to be there too.   Well the bus wasn't there and Greg wasn't there, so I started to cry...I was the only one out there.   I didn't realize that Kindergarten got out earlier.  So, I started to walk east, like mom said...but as I walked I couldn't remember how many blocks and for another thing....I didn't know what "blocks" were!   It seemed like I had walked forever and I was crying and scared.  Finally an adult spotted me in front of their house and called the school.   By then though, Greg was headed toward me and saved me.  I told him I got lost trying to find mom and Don's Diner.   I didn't know until many years later that I had only managed to walk one block away.  It sure seemed farther!  Greg was always my Hero after that.