Greg Schweig Death, Obituary – Greg Lonning, age 60, passed away on March 8, 2022, while his loving wife and children were at his side. He was taken to his heavenly home. At the comfort of his home in New Jersey, he had unexpectedly been struck by a brain aneurysm. At the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, Iowa, on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 11:00 a.m., there will be a Memorial Mass celebrated in honor of the deceased, and Father John Moser will preside over the ceremony. At 9:30 in the morning, there will be a visitation held at the church.
The Mass will be broadcasted live on the internet. On Sunday, April 24, 2022, at one o’clock in the afternoon, there will be a Celebration of Life held at the Luther College Regents Center. A memorial will also be held in New Jersey, with specifics to be provided at a later time. Charles “Chuck” and Karen (Simon) Lonning welcomed their son Gregory Charles Lonning into the world on March 15, 1961 in the town of Waukon, Iowa.
Greg spent his childhood in Waukon, where he attended St. Patrick Catholic Church for both his baptism and confirmation. He was the eldest of five sons and was a wonderful big brother in addition to being a wonderful kid. Greg was a devout altar boy who also had a passion for his buddies, athletics, and the great outdoors. He went to school in Waukon, and he was a gifted and dedicated athlete who participated in a variety of sports, including football, cross-country running, wrestling, baseball, and swim team.
Greg was an outstanding wrestler while he attended Waukon High School. In his freshman year, he qualified for the state tournament, and in his senior year, he finished in sixth place. In 1979, he received his diploma. Greg received his education at Luther College, which is located in Decorah, Iowa. He was the toughest worker, a ferocious competitor, a committed, tough, tenacious, and gritty wrestler, and he was known for his grit. Greg, the team captain, led by example, was an excellent teammate, and assisted those who were having difficulty.
He won several awards as a wrestler in the Iowa Conference and went on to play in the NCAA Division III tournament. In 1983, Greg’s senior year, he won the National Championship and was named an All-American for the second time. During his junior year, he finished in fifth place. After finishing his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, he stayed in school for an additional year to earn his Bachelor of Education degree. Greg was honored by Luther College with induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame in the year 1994.
On August 11, 1984, Greg wed Kealy Connor at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. Kealy was a childhood friend of Greg’s and a classmate from their hometown. They eventually settled in Pella, Iowa, where Greg worked as an assistant wrestling coach at Central College for a period of two years while also teaching science at Oskaloosa Junior High School. They were both in charge of the residence halls, and Kealy was an elementary school teacher. Greg was promoted to the position of head coach of the wrestling team and college instructor for a period of three years.
In 1989, he was named the Iowa Conference Coach of the Year after guiding his team to victory and winning the league championship. Wrestlers and students alike were greatly affected by Greg’s presence in their lives. Because Greg was capable of doing it all, he took care of baby Connor and brought him with him everywhere he went on school, including to job, wrestling practice, and daily Mass. He served as a courageous and admirable example to look up to.
In 1989, the family uprooted their lives and relocated to La Crosse, Wisconsin. Greg’s goal was to make the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse’s wrestling team one of the best in the country. During the time that Greg and Kealy were working on their master’s degrees, supervising a home for troubled youths, and assisting with the management of Lonning’s Landing Campground, Greg volunteered his time as an assistant coach. There, he led a number of wrestling camps for young people.
In 1992, when Moran was just a newborn, Greg took over as head coach and also began teaching PE and Health. He was a respected guide who demonstrated how to balance job and family responsibilities. Greg was an ardent and dedicated coach who won the award for Coach of the Year in the Wisconsin Conference not once but twice. During those years, his team was ranked as high as third in the nation and won multiple conference championships.
Greg was the best possible motivator, and he inspired his wrestlers to think that they were capable of accomplishing anything they set their minds to. Both on and off the mat, he imparted wisdom about living a good life. Greg shaped not only great sportsmen but also great persons throughout their lives. His impact continues on in wrestling programs all around the country and in families’ hearts and minds. In 2017, Greg was honored by the Division III National Wrestling Coaches Association by being elected into their Hall of Fame.