Fessenden, Gregory Lyle

Gregory Lyle Fessenden

February 5 Gregory Lyle Fessenden, 1948  –  April 3, 2025

Greg was born February 5, 1948, and raised in Port Huron, Michigan, the second son of Hugo and Doris Fessenden. After graduating in the first graduating class at Port Huron Northern High School in 1966, Greg enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and took basic training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.  At the height of the Vietnam Conflict, he was deployed to the Marine base at Khe Sanh during the Tet Offensive.  Khe Sanh was rocketed and mortared by the NVA for 77 straight days.  During the Siege, Greg was wounded in action and received the first of his two Purple Hearts.  About a month before his deployment was over, his unit was ambushed while on patrol.  He sustained an almost fatal wound as the bullet just missed his heart.  As Greg would say, it wasn’t his time. Greg returned to Michigan and spent the rest of his days in the state he loved.  He moved to East Lansing to continue his education on the GI Bill.  After earning an associate’s degree, he began a 33-year career with the United States Postal Service.

He and his wife of 46 years, Janet, built a life together in Okemos with their family and friends.

In addition to his wife, Greg leaves behind his son, Jeff and his wife Jonna, his daughter Courtney and her husband Rob.  His two grandsons Tyler Jay and Jack Gregory were the pride of his life and his legacy.  Also left to mourn his passing is his brother Jeff and wife Jackie.  He enjoyed sharing time with his four sisters-in-law Kathy, Ann, Pat, and Barb and their husbands Jason, Conrad, Joe and Greg, as well as brother-in-law Eric.

Greg embraced and exemplified the Marine Corps Values, Honor, Courage and Commitment.  These values emphasize ethical and moral conduct, strength in the face of adversity, and unwavering dedication to duty.  He was challenged to live up to these values every day.  Semper Fidelis.