The "The Nicest Guy You Could Ever Know!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just returned home after attending the funeral for the father of an old friend.  For years I taught Graphis Arts and Photography at the high school level and one of my best students was a fellow named Keith Grebinger.  Keith was not only a student of mine, but was the photographer for the high school yearbook which I was in charge of for any years.  Keith was not only a great student, but a likable guy who was very good at taking photographs for the yearbook.  After graduation and a few more years in photography school he opened a frame and gallery shop, known as Grebinger Gallery Art & Frame Shop, in the small town of Neffsville, Pennsylvania which was within walking distance of the high school from where he graduated.  His shop became a big hit in no time and he had to add an extra store front to his shop to accommodate all the work he had.  In 1999, after 33 years of teaching, I finally retired and on my way home that final day I stopped in at Grebinger Gallery to see how Keith was doing.  When I walked back out the door I was an active employee of Grebinger Gallery.  After a short vacation I began doing matting and framing for one of my former students.  I only worked a few hours a day, but I thoroughly enjoyed doing what I had been teaching for so many years.   Many times during my tenure at Grebinger Galery, Keith's father, Jim stopped in to talk and see what jobs we were working on at the time.  Great guy who loved seeing the work that his son's business was working on at the time.  I got to know Jim a bit better during the ten years or so that I worked at the gallery.  Interesting fellow who loved the Philadelphia Phillies as well as his family.  

Wasn't long ago that Jim became ill and had to be taken to a nursing facility.  Jim died on Wednesday, June 22. 2022.  He leaves behind a great wife, Pat, as well as his son Keith, son Dirk and daughter Lori.  He worked many years as a welder for Armstrong World Industries after serving 4 years in the United States Air Force.  Jim's funeral was a great celebration of his lifetime with various relatives telling of Jim's love for his family.  Other stories told of Jim's love of hunting, horse racing, and the Philadelphia Phillies before Mr. Kenneth Smith, a Hospice volunteer and fellow Air Force member told of Jim's final day which was spent with him.  Jim will be buried with Military Honors at The Indiantown Gap National Cemetery on Thursday July 14th at 1:00 PM.  Jim was a great guy whom I only knew for a short time, but during that time I could see why his family loved him so much.  Rest In Peace, Jim!  You certainly earned it!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Photo from when Jim was in the service.