James Greff

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of James "Jim" Peter Greff, 79. 

Jim was born June 7, 1945 in Dickinson, ND to Peter (Pete) and Magdalena (Maggie) Greff. He was raised in Mott, ND and moved to Bismarck with his sister Beanie, and brother-in-law Clarence for his junior and senior years of High School. He graduated from St. Mary’s High school in 1963. After graduating, he enlisted in the Navy from 1963-1967, where he was stationed in San Diego, CA. He did two 9-month long West Pac tours. One on the USS Ranger CVA-61, leaving from San Diego, CA, crossing the equator and then back to San Diego, CA. The other on the USS Jason leaving from San Diego, CA, with stops in Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippine Islands. In between the two tours, Jim went to electricians’ school and was an electrician on the USS Jason. The day Jim was supposed to have graduated from boot camp President Kennedy was shot and the ceremony was cancelled. 

After honorable discharge from the Navy in 1967, Jim moved back to Mott, ND where he met the love of his life, Irene Schadler. They were married in Mott, ND on June 15, 1968, and moved to Dickinson, ND where he worked at Lindy Winky Bootery. They moved to Milwaukee, WI in 1968, and had their first daughter Audra, in Cudahy, WI in 1969. They moved to Bismarck, ND shortly after, and had their second daughter Jodi in 1970. 

Jim worked at Sears in Bismarck from 1971 – 1976 and completed two years at Bismarck Junior College during this time. In 1976 he went to Lenexa, KS where he trained and worked for Leland Mass Directory. After training he was hired on with Fronteer Directory, in Bismarck, ND as a sales manager where he worked from 1976-1996. He was transferred to Lake Havasu City, AZ in 1989 for ten months, and Billings, MT in 1990 for six years. In 1996 Jim & Irene moved back to Bismarck, ND. Jim, along with four other partners formed Classified Directories and Design Wizards, where he worked until 2007 when he retired.

Jim and Irene loved to travel and lived life to the fullest. After retiring, they spent winters (Jan – March) in Lake Havasu City, AZ. They made life-long friendships everywhere they went. Jim also enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, polishing rocks, being at their lake cabin at Brush Lake, ND, going to casinos, and playing poker and Pinochle at the Elbow Room with his friends. Jim had so much more life in him and lost his cancer battle too soon. 

Jim is survived by his wife Irene (Schadler) Greff, his two daughters Audra (Archie Pierce) Stockert of Bismarck, ND, and Jodi (Jeff) Shawver of Severance, CO, and his three amazing grandchildren, Nathan Shawver, Amber Shawver, and Andrew Pierce. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Pete & Maggie Greff, his brother Henry (Hank) Greff, his sister Rosella (Sally) Lample, and a brother-in-law Anton (Tony) Lample, and his nephew Mickey Roscoe. 

Jim will be placed in his final resting place at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery in Mandan, on Friday June 6th, 2025 at 3:00pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at their house in Bismarck, ND on June 7th, 2025, time TBD at a later date. Wear your Minesota Vikings attire. More details will be sent out as it gets closer. 

Jim’s family would like to give a special thank you to the wonderful Sanford Hospital Hospice workers, Ascension Church Priests, and the numerous family and friends that have supported us through this incredibly painful time.