Gregg Sample

A celebration of Life for Gregg Sample will be held on Friday, March 6, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley with Pastor Mark Woodward officiating. A visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M to 1:00 P.M. on March 6, prior to service.

Gregg Sample, age 79, of Spring Valley, MN died Thursday, February 27, 2020 at his home on his father’s birthday.  

J. Gregg Sample was born November 26, 1940 to James Ivan Sample and Ruth (Utley) Sample. He attended Spring Valley High School and where he met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Karen Root.  He graduated from SVHS in 1958.  He went on to continue his education at the University of Minnesota where he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Meat Science.  Karen and Gregg were married February 15, 1958 and have been loving soul mates ever since. Together they lived in Spring Valley and St Paul.  In 1964 they moved to Massachusetts and later moved back to Spring Valley where they farmed for many years. In 1985 they moved to Arlington, MN and then to Pella, IA in 1994 returning to Spring Valley in 1998.

Gregg worked as a college instructor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, where he taught Meat Science.   He later moved the family back to the Spring Valley area where he farmed for 17 years and spent one year teaching Ag at the Spring Valley High School.  Gregg then moved to Arlington, MN where he worked with American Pig Development and Lieske Genetics.  When that facility closed, he moved to Pella, IA and worked at the American Pig Development there.  He later moved back to Spring Valley where he worked for Next Generation Pork and Herdstar for approximately 20 years. 

Gregg loved to spend time with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and attend their events.   He was also a huge fan of Gopher sports.   Gregg likewise enjoyed keeping up the flower gardens.  He was dedicated to taking care of Karen when she was battling Multi System Atrophy.  Gregg helped manage his apartment building, as well as its upkeep. 

He is survived by his children; Mark Sample of Wykoff, MN, Brenda Carman of Grand Meadow, MN, Linda (Ron) Boland of Preston, MN  and Sandy (Bob) Burke of St. Charles, MN, 11 granddaughters, 2 step-granddaughters, 5 grandsons, 25 great grandchildren, siblings Jim (Ranah) Sample of Vermillion, SD, and Evadene Hagberg of Maple Grove, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, soul mate Karen, his brother Richard, son-in-law Bill, grandson Mathew, and great grandson Dominic. 

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