Gregory Lewis Turk

Gregory Lewis Turk, 70, passed away Oct. 3 in Huntsville Hospital.

Gregg was born on Dec. 20, 1949 in Syracuse, NY, to Leo and Betty Turk. He has been an Alabama resident since 1964.

An Army artillery veteran who served in Vietnam, Gregg returned to Alabama after the service and worked as a home builder and craftsman carpenter throughout North Alabama for nearly 50 years. In his work and personal projects, he was both a creative and technical thinker who could solve any problem in unique and remarkable ways.

In 1974, he married Reba Burden and the couple lived in Somerville, AL.

Later in life, Gregg enthusiastically took on the role of a professional Santa Claus and was a member of the Fraternal Order of Real-Bearded Santas.

Santa Gregg approached that activity with zeal and he was the highlight of many Christmas parades throughout the south, as well as part of a call-in Christmas show on WHNT in Huntsville. His self-made wooden sleigh was complete with snow and fog machines, a full sound system with sound effects, video monitor, GPS, vertical lift and "reindeer assist" functions. Details and photos of him and his sleigh, as well as links to his television interviews, are still available for viewing on SantavisitsAlabama.com.

Gregg is survived by his son Joseph (April) and granddaughter Lilly of Hixson, TN, brothers Gary (Seattle, WA), Jeffrey (Huntsville, AL), Barnett (Bothell, WA) and sister Ellen Little (Madison, AL).

In lieu of flowers or other forms of sympathy, the family requests that donations be made to children's charities.

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