Kimber Greene died peacefully at his home on Green Lake Tuesday, Nov. 3. He was 84.
Born on March 12, 1936, in Chicago, to Helen Troy (Paris) and Clay Marshall Greene, Kimber spoke of fond memories of his childhood in Oak Park, remarking that “all of Chicago was our Sunday playground. For a few cents for the El, bus or street car one could get to the museums, zoos and ballparks.” While he was a White Sox fan at heart, he often told stories of watching Cubs games on his Uncle Guy’s rooftop with family and neighborhood friends.
He also told stories of ration lines, knitting caps and gloves at school, and collecting scrap metal and old clothing to support the World War II effort.
Kimber and his family moved to the Turner House across from Douglas Beach in 1947. Shortly thereafter, they moved down to the Judge Barrett house at Wiley and Lakeshore Drive. He graduated from Saugatuck High school in 1954, where he played varsity baseball and basketball.
He went on to study at the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in education. Kimber’s first teaching position was at Bard Junior High school in Benton Harbor, where he also coached basketball. He married Barbara Louise Hope in September 1962 and they had two children David Clay Greene (1963) and Kimberly Ellen Greene (1965).
Kimber began teaching history and government for Kentwood Public Schools in 1963 until retirement in 1994.
Kimber enjoyed winter canoe and camping trips on the Pine River near Cadillac each February with fellow teachers. Traveling became a lifetime pursuit. He ran in the River Bank Run for the first time in 1979 and loved golf which he began playing as a young man in Saugatuck where he worked as a caddy. In retirement he worked at Briarwood golf course and played in local golf leagues for years.
Kimber was an accomplished wood carver and joined the Woodland Carvers and was their president from 1997 to 2008.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Louise (Hope) Greene, son David Clay Greene (Sallie Lynn Birdsley), daughter Kimberly Ellen Greene, grandchildren Mallory Leigh (Greene) Maghielse (Chad) and Casey Lauren Greene, brother Robert Campbell Greene (Sherry Kalisz), sister-in-law Norma Jean (Gotham) Greene, sister-in-law Mary Ellen (Hope) Newton and many nieces and nephews.
Kimber was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Marshall John Greene and Bruce Oliver Greene (Anne Margaret Outram (Amo) Greene).
A small family burial is planned for December and the family hopes to have a memorial celebration to honor his life next August. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF).
