Benjamin Lawrence Greiner, 67, lost his battle with cancer on June 29, 2021, in Raymond,Washington, his home of six years. He was born Jan. 28, 1954, to Francis and Shirley (Wurdinger) Greiner in Silverton, Oregon. Through the years, he also lived in Olympia, Washington (1986-1991) and Forks, Washington (1991-2015) prior to retiring in Raymond.
In his teens, Ben was a projectionist for the local movie theater before going to work with his father at a local saw mill. Ben graduated from Gervais High School in 1972, and served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1975. After his military service ended, he returned to work in the saw mill in a variety of positions, eventually training to become a stacker operator, a job he truly loved going to every day of his 30 years as an operator.
In 1975, Ben married Jeanette Bashaw in Silverton, Oregon. In 1992, he married Joann Bradshaw in Shelton, Washington; she passed away in 1994. In 1995, he married Jeanne Machado in Forks, Washington, and they had just celebrated 26 loving years together in April.
Ben was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a man of honesty and integrity, and had a robust sense of humor and infectious laugh. He was also a wonderful storyteller, a bit of a prankster, and perpetually ready to tell or retell a corny joke.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, raising horses and chickens, traveling, and spending time with his family. He spent many years playing Santa’s helper, making countless children very happy.
Ben is survived by his wife, Jeanne Greiner of Raymond; sons, AndrewGreiner of Onalaska, Washington, and Joshua (Bridget) Greiner of Cosmopolis, Washington; daughter, Eileen (John) Selleck of Centralia, Washington; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy (Dave) Thompson, Chris (John) Remacle, Celie (Bernard) Kimlinger, Charlotte (Tom) Pritchard, Lilly (Chuck) Eder, Kathy (Roger) Sperle, Marie (Ken) Schacher, Ruth Greiner; and brothers, Michael Greiner (Stacey Warren), and Patrick (Barbara) Greiner. He was preceded in death by his parents; younger sister, Janice; and second wife, Joann.
A Celebration of Life was held July 31, 2021 at the Hoquiam Grand Central Event Center in Hoquiam, Washington. Memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) or the Wounded Warrior Project.
Please leave memories at www.FuneralAlternatives.org.
