Gregory Montour
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Ames Monument & Cremation Center on May 5, 2026 , entered May 2026
Gregory “Greg” Montour was a kind-hearted and gentle soul who passed away on April 27th, 2026 at the age of 71, surrounded by the love of his family in Ames, Iowa.
He was born on December 6, 1954, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at 6:30pm. His parents were the late Donald Montour and Joyce Montour. He grew up in rural Iowa on a 160 acre small mixed pasture and cropland farm. There they raised Holstein dairy cattle and Leghorn chickens for both meat/eggs. He had a lot of fond memories of milking cows and listening to “Polka Party Time” in the barn with his father.
Greg served his country from November 1973 to November 1977 as an enlisted service member of the U.S. Navy. He served on a variety of vessels including the USS Lexington and the nuclear powered attack submarine USS Tinosa. He worked as a nuclear propulsion plant operator and engineering laboratory technician. He was very proud of the time he served and earned the nickname of “Moose.”
He lived in a variety of places throughout his years after the Navy, including Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and Columbia, Missouri before returning to Ames, Iowa to be near the people he loved most. He enjoyed a career in public transit, and worked for the Columbia Area Transit Authority in Missouri and CyRide in Ames, transporting folks all throughout the city.
In 1990, Greg embraced the Bahá’í Faith, and it became a light of the rest of his life. From his earliest childhood, he had spoken to God each night before sleep, a practice he never abandoned into adulthood. The Bahá’í writings gave that lifelong conversation a home. Greg believed in the soul’s journey onward, and that love of God was the beginning and end of all things. Greg lived a life shaped by seeking faith and enjoying his passions. He always had an open, kind heart and was known for his easygoing nature, his love of movies, television, and the games he played with quiet dedication. His favorites included World of Warcraft and Diablo. It was the simple, meaningful routines that brought him much joy.
Greg is survived by his mother, Joyce Evelyn Montour; his son, Ben Montour and Ben’s wife, Ellen Hartstack; his daughter, Kayti Hageman; and his beloved granddaughter, Inara Hageman.
He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Virgil Montour, his brother Douglas, and his sister Phyllis. He will be deeply missed and forever loved.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Gregory Montour’s name to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) at https://help.DAV.org/ or the Easterseals Iowa program at https://ia.easterseals.com/
