Greg Neftzger

Gregory J. Neftzger of Pryor, Oklahoma, was born on March 20, 1964, in Springfield, Missouri, to Henry J. Neftzger and Dixie J. (Nicholson) Neftzger. Greg passed away on January 9, 2012, at home after a long debilitating battle with crohn's disease and stiff person syndrome. Greg is survived by his wife, Julia L. Neftzger, son Korben J. Neftzger, and daughter Gretchen L. Neftzger, his parents, Henry and Dixie Neftzger, his two brothers, Mark L. Neftzger and his partner Ty Jenkins and Todd H. Neftzger, his grandmother, May Tune, his mother-in-law, Maurine Moore, his three brothers-in-law, Darrell L. Moore and wife Donna, Jeff Moore and wife Wendy, Kevin Moore and wife Dana, his aunt Dorothy Wilbanks and husband Ed, and his aunt Pat Hevalow. He was preceded in death by his two grandfathers, Henry J. Neftzger, Sr. and Pete Nicholson, his grandmother Mary Rose Neftzger Gibson, and his father-in-l aw, J. Ralph Moore. Greg graduated from Pryor High School in 1982, and from Oklahoma State University in December of 1987, with a degree in Finance. Greg and Julia were married on July 25, 1987, after dating 6 years. Upon graduation from OSU, Greg began an almost 20 year career in banking. He first worked at Century National Bank in Pryor, then was hired by the late Jack Yoakum at Bank of Commerce, Chouteau. Greg retired from Bank of Commerce on medical disability in 2006, as Executive Vice President, a member of the Board of Directors, and a stock holder of said bank. His hobbies included cars, fishing, model trains, everything in which Korben and Gretchen participated, and in the last several years watching every western movie made. Greg bled orange, as does his wife and children, and was a true fan of everything Oklahoma State. He was able to see the end of the Cowboys last football game and savor the first BCS bowl victory for the Pokes. Throughout Greg's life, he was known as a kind honest person with a competitive but giving spirit, even though his brother Mark and son Korben claim Greg cheated at every board game and video game he ever played. In keeping with his helping nature, Greg donated his body for science and research and he and his family are hopeful that by making this ultimate gift of himself, that advancements will be made in finding a cure for crohn's disease and stiff person syndrome. A memorial service for Greg will be held on Tuesday, January 17, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in which he was a member. The bright spots during Greg's painful and debilitating illness included family, especially Korben and Gretchen's school activities, and the friendships he forged with the nurses, both at the hospital and in the Home Health and Hospice Department of Mayes County Medical Center. Greg considered all his nurses his friends and loved them all like the sisters he never had. Therefore, the family asks that donations be made either to the Mayes County Medical Center Hospice program or to the Pryor Public Schools to be used for the band and choir programs.