Dr. Gregg L Painter, 77, died October 31 at Midwest Senior Care Community, Galena. He managed the challenges of Lewy Body Dementia for 8 years with grace and courage. Gregg was born in Ottawa, IL, on January 8, 1948, to Fred and Dorothy (Knutstrom) Painter. The youngest of three boys, his world was filled with riding bikes, helping his neighbors, hiking outdoors, exploring woods, and creeks. He was endlessly curious and attentive to details. His family moved to Urbana, IL, and there he met Emily; they were married on September 6, 1969. Gregg graduated from Urbana HS, attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and graduated in 1972 with a DDS degree from the U of I dental school, Chicago. Along the way, he worked for a moving company, delivered Coca-Cola, sorted mail at the post office, and milked cows at the university farms. He loved all his jobs and enjoyed the people he met. In 1972, he and Emily rolled their U-Haul into Galena, and Gregg set up practice above Clingman’s Pharmacy on Main St. He practiced dentistry for 46 years, delighting in knowing his patients, making notes on their charts about their families, hobbies, and travel as well as their teeth. He was respected and appreciated for being incredibly gentle and patient. Galena was the perfect place for Gregg’s love of antiques, history, and the outdoors. He became an avid cross-country skier, and a fast one, competing in the American Birkebeiner race for years. He is remembered by family and friends for his positive outlook on life and for always seeing the best in everyone. He was kind and thoughtful and never lost the ability to notice and rejoice in the natural world around him. Gregg especially loved birds, recognizing their calls and leading birding tours to excite others about birding. He and Emily were enthusiastic travelers, visiting every continent. He adored his family, treasured his friends, appreciated his wonderful staff, and celebrated life in so many ways. He is survived by his wife, Emily, daughters Elizabeth (Aaron Fields) and Anna (Michael Donohoe), grandchildren Alice, Elliotte, and Connor, his brother Roger, and a host of dearly loved family members, friends, and grateful dental patients. In retirement, Gregg was proud of the stewardship work he and other JDCF volunteers did at Gateway Park and Horseshoe Mound. He equally valued the camaraderie and friendships he developed through this work. Memorials in Gregg’s name may be made to the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation. A celebration of Gregg’s life will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, Galena. Furlong Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.
Dr. Gregg L. Painter
What a dear man, I missed him when he retired. Love to his family.
Greg had a major positive influence on my life. He made me a better person and was the major influence in my choosing dentistry as a career. It has been many years since we have had regular contact. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to share that with him a few years back.
We loved Gregg as our dentist for many years – he was kind, patient, and professional. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Our deepest sympathy to you, Emily and your family!
Dear Emily, Elizabeth, and Anna, and families, We send you our deepest condolences and sympathy for the passing of Gregg. He was a kind, gentle man. Our family always enjoyed visiting with him at our dental appointments over many years. May God bless you all and May Gregg rest in peace.
Rusty and Jane Johnson
Our sincere condolences to Emily and family.
Emily I’m So sorry to hear about Greg‘s passing. I had not realized that he had been sick that long. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Emily, our deepest sympathy to you and your family for your loss. May God bless you all
Emily and family
I always liked Gregg. He was a soft spoken man. Was a great dentist. You have my sincere condolences at this time. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Toni and Neil Moser.
Dear Emily, we were very sorry to hear of Gregg’s passing. You, the girls and all the family are in our thoughts and prayers. Mike and Sandy Willis
I really loved Dr Painter as my dentist for me & my family. Patient & kind. May he rest in peace. Sympathy to his wife & family.
I remember Dr painter I seen him when he was in the little office above the pharmacy he was such a wonderful person
Emily, my deepest sympathy to you and your family for your loss..
What a beautiful life Gregg led. My condolences to the many friends and family who love him.
We have been with you and Gregg in heart and prayer on this long journey. He was such a nice man, wonderful friend, husband, father, dentist. We will miss him always and send you our love.
My sincerest sympathies to the family. Dr Painter was such a kind man.
My heart is saddened by this great loss for your family. Gregg was my first dentist and would come out to the lobby himself to lead me back. The conversations with him were the best throughout the years. His continued service to our community was second to none. Please know that my heart is with you all through this journey.
My sincere sympathy to you and your family, Emily. Gregg was a great dentist, good friend and fellow gardener. We had great conversations about trees, shrubs and flowers and he gave me a lot of tips over the years. I will always remember what a great person he was.
To this day, I love going to the dentist, to me it’s the same as going and getting massage and I owe my level of relaxation to Dr. painter. He always made it a painless and pleasant experience. He was also devoted to his patients and I personally experienced this when I was 13 and out of control with pain from an abscess tooth. He came in at 5:30 or 6 o’clock at night on a Saturday and fixed me up.
Heartfelt condolences to you all. Extraordinary men like Greg Painter leave extraordinarily large impressions in this world and on us. Our family remembers his skilled and loving dentistry, always treating us all with dignity and care. May all your memories and love sustain you❤️
Emily,
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers, I hope you can remember all the great memories you and Greg shared. Thinking of you all.
There’s a common thread running through these expressed thoughts. Gregg was a kind, gentle man, and a wonderful dentist, husband, father, grandfather and friend! I really enjoyed working for him and Dr. Brewer “back in the day”. And then, by happenstance, I volunteered at the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation in later years, and Gregg and I got to work together again! We culled weeds, burned wood piles in the winter, did some open burns on weedy patches. One winter the two of us were in charge of doing an open burn on a patch of ground, and it got a lit-tle beyond the boundaries! It wasn’t anything that was going to be a problem – it’s just that we had to run around to find the rest of our group, who had the equipment we needed to put it out! We got it back where it was supposed to be, and AFTER that, we had a good laugh about what we must have looked like, running all over to find our crew! Mike and I have nothing but good memories of time spent with Gregg over the years – theatre years with Emily meant Gregg would be there supporting her; Christmas parties and caroling downtown. Good times. . .
He will be missed by his community – his presence added so much to Galena. “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Well done, Gregg.
Gregg was a great friend of the Clingman family. I still remember the first time he introduced himself to me when I was working with dad behind the prescription counter. Gregg along with my father, brother and many of my closest friends enjoyed playing tennis together in Galena’s summer tennis league. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.
I am so sorry or your loss. I don’t think I ever saw Greg without a welcoming smile. He left lasting impressions with his contributions to the community and his kindness. I know he will be missed by family and many friends.