Greg Paxton, 44

Gregory A. Paxton, age 44, of Three Rivers, passed away early Monday morning, Jan. 13, 2015, at his home following a lengthy illness.

He was born April 28, 1970, in Three Rivers, a son of Arden and Bonita (Battaglino) Paxton.

Greg resided in Oxnard, Calif., and was a graduate of Oxnard High School with the class of 1988. He returned to the Three Rivers area in 1997.

He had been employed by Ross Laboratories in Sturgis until health issues forced him to retire.

Greg was proud to have served his country for nine years in the U.S. Navy, earning the rank of petty officer. Most of his time was spent aboard submarines.

He enjoyed working on cars, gardening, cooking, model railroading and volunteering his time with his son’s Cub Scout Troop. Greg always will be remembered for being a great dad.

He is survived by his children, Shelby and Gregory Paxton, both at home; a stepson, Ryan Strubbe at home; his parents, Bonnie (Joe) Robinson of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Arden “Bud” Paxton of Sturgis; and two sisters, Sabrina (Dwight) Paxton-Daily of Emmitsburg, Md., and Alicia Shields of Sturgis.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis. Funeral services celebrating the life of Gregory A. Paxton will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The Rev. Calvin Kolzow of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis. Full military honors will be conferred by Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Greg’s memory consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.