With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our colleague and friend Greg Jodzio. Our team will remember Greg for his smiles, jokes, caring ways and good-natured personality.
Greg was with SWIF nearly 11 years – 10 years, 10 months and 10 days to be exact; you could say he was a perfect 10. Greg was fond of telling people that it was hotdogs that brought him to the foundation. He got to know us as a microloan client when he started Red’s Hot, the legendary hotdog stand in Hutchinson. He then joined our business finance team, working with entrepreneurs for over 5 years and then moving to fundraising for about 5 years. Greg loved sharing the SWIF story of innovation, collaboration and the positive impact people are making together across southwest Minnesota.
Diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer last fall, Greg approached his journey with positivity, heart and courage. Last week, he and his wife Betty made the difficult decision to end treatments and begin home hospice care. Greg left this earth Sunday, April 11. We share our condolences with Betty, his children and grandchildren, and all who loved him.
In his final days, Greg reminded us that he lived a good life and enjoyed it to the fullest. He asked us not to be sad but to keep on doing our good work and having fun doing it. And so we will, but it will be less fun without him.
Greg’s obituary is available online.
An unabashed fundraiser always, Greg asked for memorial gifts to the Southwest Initiative Foundation General Endowment or Hutchinson Center for the Arts. If you’d like to make a gift to SWIF in memory of Greg, you can give online to our general endowment fund.
