Scott Michael Greenig, 69, of Lander Wyoming died on May 6, 2019, in Lander, Wyoming surrounded by his family. Per Scott’s wishes, there will be a “Short Celebration of Life Without Too Much Talking” at 2:00 pm on May 20, 2019, at the Livery Stable at the Museum of the American West, 1445 West Main Street, Lander, Wyoming. Please join the family afterward for more “talking” and refreshment at the Mill House, 125 Main St., Lander, Wyoming.
Scott was an honest, direct and compassionate man. His family meant everything to him; there was nothing he wouldn’t do for them.
Scott was born in St Peter, Minnesota on October 12, 1949, the first child of Carl and Vivian Greenig. Over the next 10 years, 5 brothers and 1 sister would join the Greenig brood.He and all his siblings attended Catholic grade schools. As Alter Boys, the “Greenig brothers” were a favorite “matching set” for weddings.
Scott graduated from St. Peter Public High School in 1969 and shortly thereafter voluntarily enlisted in the US Marine Corp. He served two tours, after one year of training as a ballistics engineer. He served both tours in combat duty in Vietnam so his brothers would not have to serve in combat duty. His first tour was served as a ballistics expert disarming land mines and setting charges on bridges, always in danger of being picked off by snipers. On his second tour, he served as a Combat Artist recording in paintings some of the most dangerous places in Vietnam. He was fearless because he said, “I always knew I would be ok.” He was a Sargent when honorably discharged for a family emergency when his father was dying.
Scott’s mother died when he was young, his dad died soon after his return from Vietnam. At the age of 22, fresh from combat duty he took on the responsibility of “surrogate” father and spent the next 6 years raising his siblings.
Soon after his return from Vietnam Scott depicted his combat experiences in paintings and drawings with images of war and destruction. Most people, “…weren’t ready for that.” Scott said. He continued throughout his life to paint the wake of life in a less obvious way in animal and landscape imagery.
Scott painted incessantly and always had a “day job.” He poured concrete for Tate Construction, started Greenig Brother’s Bait and Tackle with his brothers Grant and Whitey. He ran the bronze art foundry for the bronze sculptor, Paul Granlund, at Gustavus Adolphus College for 20 years, taught painting at the Art Students League in Denver for 6 years, and he painted murals for 20 years.
In 1988, while at Gustavus Adolphus College Scott would meet the young woman he would choose to spend the rest of his life with, Lorre Hoffman. Lorre had recently earned an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art and joined the college as the sabbatical replacement sculpture instructor.
They moved to New Britton, Connecticut where Lorre was the “Artist in Residence” at Central Connecticut State University, and Scott worked at Aardvark Art Studios where he learned art restoration techniques and art framing.
Next Lorre and Scott would move to Denver where Scott would continue painting and working at a frame shop where he would meet Mark Oatis of Oatis Sign Works and began to paint large murals at locations such as the Wyn, Flamingo, MGM Grand and Bellagio casinos in Las Vegas. He also produced many original works of art for Disney Tokyo and Disney California. His own artwork is in collections of the Denver Art Museum, the Detroit Zoological Society, the New Britain Museum of American Art, and the Pentagon and Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. His mural work in Las Vegas won him the first place award in sign murals in “Sign of the Times” national sign competition, 1992.
In 1992 Lorre and Scott were married, and in 1997 their son, Ben was born. This would begin another chapter of Scott’s life. His love and devotion to Ben was apparent to everyone and Scott would often say, “Ben was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Ben and Scott were, “joined at the hip.”
In 2000 Scott, Lorre, and Ben settled in Lander, Wyoming. Lorre and Scott wanted Ben to experience the freedom that childhood in a small town can provide. Scott would continue mural painting and to paint and sell his original works. In Wyoming he would leave his mark by winning a Governors Purchase award, painting murals that are still on display in the Lander City Park and Lander Public Library and in 2006 one of his fish paintings would be selected for Wyoming’s Conservation Stamp. He would also start a fish guiding business called “Fishing Crow.”
However, in Lander, Scott would become best known for his cooking. He started by cooking with the produce from his garden and selling it at the Farmer’s Market, out of that grew a catering business “Cooking Crow.” If you were lucky enough to have Scott cater an event, you might find yourself eating fish Scott caught and vegetables from his garden.
Scott had few, but solid, good friends who shared their lives with him through softball, golf, fishing, art, and cooking. In everything he did Scott worked hard to be the best which made him a significant artist, fabulous chef and a great athlete who played to win.
Scott was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Greenig and Vivian (Biehn) Greenig and brother Grant Greenig.
He is survived by his wife Lorre Hoffman and their son Ben Greenig, his brothers and their wives; Mark and Lois Greenig, Larry and Denise Greenig, Bruce “Whitey” and Suzanne Greenig, Dean and Liz Greenig and his sister and her husband; Paula and Jack Granlund. Scott also has 3 nieces, 7 nephews, and 19 great nieces and nephews.
Scott never complained about anything, until Trump was elected, then he shared his honest opinions about the 45th President in social media with a vengeance.
In the last 19 years, Scott devoted a lot of energy and food to his favorite non-profit organizations – in lieu of flowers send donations to one of Scott’s favorite organizations: Lander Art Center, Maker Space 307, Popo Agie Anglers, or Lander Golf Club.
For obituary page, please visit hudsonfuneralhome.com.