Gregory Martin Rourke

Gregory Martin Rourke, 77, passed away on August 3rd at home. Born November 1st, 1943 in Whippany, NJ, he was the first child to Francis & Ann (Diaccyk) Rourke. Greg attended nearby Morristown High School where he graduated in 1960. He promptly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and after completing training, was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He then served two tours in Vietnam from 1961-1963 before finishing his service in Okinawa, Japan.

After his service to our country, while traveling from the east coast to California he met his future wife in Omaha, Ne. Greg and Phyllis (Borgelt) settled there to raise their family. In 1982 the family relocated to West Des Moines, Ia where he grew his Zee Medical distributorship and achieved distributor of the year in 1993. Greg and Phyllis traveled the world visiting Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and numerous islands in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for both business and pleasure.

Retiring in 2004, he spent his time exploring the country on his Harley-Davidson and walleye fishing in Canada. Health issues caused him to give up riding and he enjoyed his final years on his acreage in Norwalk, Ia.

Greg is survived by his first wife Phyllis and they're four boys, Michael of Milo, Iowa, Matthew & Gwen (Shickell) of Tualatin, Oregon, Adam & Dawn Rourke of Des Moines, Iowa, Bradley Rourke & Niki Griffin of Savage, Minnesota. Greg also is survived by his five grandchildren, Thomas, Abby, Brandon, Alex, and Waylon. He also has five step-grandchildren, John & Abby Ryan, Samantha Purscell, Hannah Poortinga, and Hannah Shickell. He is preceded in death by his mother & father, brother Bruce, and his second wife.

The family would like to invite you to his internment at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa on Wednesday, September 15th, 2021 at 12:30. A portion of his ashes will be scattered at his favorite fishing spot in central Ontario, Canada at a later date

Print