Former Wood Dale Mayor 'always had a smile on his face'

Wood Dale's longest serving mayor, Jerry Greer, died Friday after he and his wife Yvonne were in a car crash near their home in Cass City, Michigan.

Greer, 79, served as Wood Dale's mayor for 20 years before ending his run in 1995.

"The guy always had a smile on his face," said Wood Dale Mayor Nunzio Pulice.

Pulice was opening his Wood Dale business, Produce Plaza, in 1987 when Greer was mayor and got to know him at the time.

"He was a nice man, always very friendly," Pulice said.

Wood Dale City Clerk Shirley Siebert helped Greer on his first campaign for mayor in the 1970s.

"He loved the town, and he loved the people in it," she said. "He wasn't concerned about politics; he was just concerned about what was good for Wood Dale."

The Tuscola County Sheriff's Department responded to the accident just after 3 p.m. on M-81 near Dutcher Road in Caro in Ellington Township.

Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Mattlin said the crash involved the Greers' Ford van, a Chevy Impala and a semi truck.

The Greers' van struck the rear of the semi truck, and the Impala hit the back of the Greers' van while the vehicles were traveling southwest on M-81.

Jerry Greer was taken to Caro Community Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Yvonne Greer was taken to Hills & Dales General Hospital in Cass City. Mattlin said she suffered injuries that were not life-threatening.

Dana Maniscalco, a daughter of the former mayor, said she got a call from her father's neighbors in Michigan letting her know what happened around 6:30 p.m. Friday.

She said family members were headed to Michigan Saturday to find out more details.

Mattlin said the crash is under investigation, and no citations have been issued.

Jerry and Yvonne Greer retired and moved to Cass City more than 10 years ago.

The pair was always camping and hiking, son-in-law Kurtis Ploehn said. Jerry Greer was involved in the community and the couple attended Cass City United Methodist Church.

"All of my memories of Jerry are funny and fun," Ploehn said. "He was a very intelligent and interesting guy."

Prior to becoming mayor of Wood Dale, Greer worked as a high school teacher and contractor in the suburbs. He played on the basketball team while attending Northwestern University and served in the United States Marine Corps.

Jerry also had a border collie named Reese. who he trained as a therapy dog, Ploehn said. The two made more than 1,000 trips to visit those who were sick or in need of something to brighten their day.

"Reese is really going to miss him," Ploehn said.

Greer was father to Dana Maniscalco, Debbie Ploehn and Donna Greer. He also had several grandchildren.

Rev. Jackie Roe, pastor of Cass City United Methodist Church, said the Greers are well-known in the church, and the family will be on the minds and in the prayers of church members.

Services will be held in Cass City and Wood Dale, Ploehn said, but no dates or times have been set.