L. Greg Florence, 56, of Loveland died Thursday, Sept. 29,  2005 at McKee Medical Center in Loveland of complications from lung cancer.

He was born Feb. 11, 1949, in Albia, Iowa, to Charles Lindy and Marian (Horvei) Florence.

In 1957, Mr. Florence moved with his family to Monmouth, Ill., where he grew up and graduated from Monmouth High School in 1967. He competed for the YMCA where he excelled as a swimmer and diver. He enlisted in the Army in 1968 and served in Vietnam as a supply sergeant and was awarded the bronze star. He was honorably discharged with a disability discharge in 1970.

In 1971, he married Linda Opheim Frantzen. They later divorced. He married Suzanne Enman, and they also divorced.

On Nov. 11, 1989, he married Mary Anne Day Morrison in Greeley, and they moved to Loveland in 1990 to build their dream home.

Mr. Florence graduated cum laude from the University of Northern Colorado in 1975 with a degree in history. He taught social studies and coached basketball at Niobrara High School in Lusk, Wyo., from 1975-76. He taught at Sidney Senior High School in Sidney, Mont., from 1976-78. In 1978, he moved his family back to Greeley where he held various credit jobs ending at Norlarco Credit Union as a loan processor. In 1984, he took a job as distribution clerk at the Loveland Post Office, a job he held until his disability retirement in 2003. For several years he was known as the clerk who cancelled the Valentine’s for the valentine-remailing program. He made many special friends among the volunteers.

Mr. Florence had an ability to make friends and believed “a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.” His greatest joys were his friends, family, and especially the grandchildren and his woodworking hobby.

Survivors are his wife, Mary Anne Florence of Loveland; two daughters, Theresa Frantzen Dillard and husband Tim of Queen Creek, Ariz., and Jennifer Morrison Oscar and husband Gary of Evans Mills, N.Y.; two sons, Todd Frantzen and wife Sandie of Bolingbrook, Ill., and Scott Morrison of Loveland; his mother, Marian Florence Creighton of Monmouth; two sisters, Mary Kay Kimball and husband Curt of Portland, Ore., and Jan Garven and husband Jim of Austin, Texas; 12 grandchildren; three nieces; and four nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Tonya Florence, his father and a sister Julie Florence Ramstad.

Celebration of the Mass will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Loveland.

Friends may visit from noon-1 p.m. before services Tuesday at the church.

Kibbey Fishburn Funeral Home in Loveland is in charge of local arrangements.

Final services and interment will be in Monmouth with Turnbull Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Memorial gifts may be made to Habitat for Humanity or Food for the Poor.