Former Tustin mayor and entrepreneur, Frank Greinke, died Tuesday from complications of a stroke.

Born on Dec. 31, 1931, in Joliet, Ill., he came to California at the age of 14. He was 73 at the time of his death.

Greinke, who attended Pepperdine University, believed in community service. He was a past president of the Tustin Chamber of Commerce. For many years, he was a member of the Tustin Lions Club and served as president there, as well.

He also was a knight in the Order of Malta, an ancient international service organization that will participate in his burial.

Choosing not to run for re-election, he served one term on the Tustin City Council, from 1982 to 1986. He served as mayor in 1985-86.

Tustin Area Man of the Year in 1973, Greinke was enthusiastic about the Tustin community. He was an original promoter of the annual Chili Cook-off, which has evolved into the El Camino Real Street Fair and Chili Cook-off. He was a founder of the Tustin Area Senior Center.

He became rich in the petroleum industry with his Southern Counties Oil Co. His business took him all around the world, especially to Soviet Georgia, where he started several businesses and did humanitarian work. When the Republic of Georgia was formed, he became the honorary consul general to the U.S. He was so loved in Georgia that a park is being named there for him.

Greinke wanted to bring his business acumen to the running of the city when he ran for City Council.

"Frank was a fine gentleman," said City Manager Bill Huston. "What was unique about him was that he was very passionate about private enterprise and being an entrepreneur. He was very passionate about the community. He thought government should be more efficient and effective. He though it should be run like a business but, to his credit, he came to understand the difference between the two, and he was able to blend them."

Those who served on the City Council with him remember Greinke fondly.

"Frank Greinke was a good friend," said Don Saltarelli. "He was kind, honest, gentle and giving. He did wonderful things for Tustin. He was a true ambassador for good will. His memory will live in my heart forever."

Ron Hoesterey also served with Greinke. He said, "I'm going to miss Frank deeply. He was a dear friend. He had friends all over the world. He was welcomed everywhere. He was a great ambassador, not only for Tustin, but as a great human being.

He was a very caring and compassionate individual."

Even those on the council who did not see eye to eye with Greinke respected him.

"He brought energy and a very savvy business sense to the council," said former council woman Ursula Kennedy.

"He brought pleasantness, even though we disagreed sometimes.

He taught me not to be disagreeable. He was very good for our morale."

While Greinke was on the council, Leslie Pontious was serving on the city Planning Commission.

"I was aware of the respect he held with both the planning commissioners and staff," Pontious said.

"He was a very strong, forthright person on the council. He worked very hard to improve the city.

"He was instrumental in moving the development of Tustin Ranch."

His wife, Margaret, remembers him this way, "I feel Frank belonged to the world. He never limited himself to anything. I'm receiving messages from all over the world, people he had such a huge impact on. He belonged to the world."

His son, Frank P. Greinke of Huntington Harbor, remembered his father with gratitude.

"He gave his family the greatest gift you could ever give -- the gift of opportunity."

Other survivors include son, Donovan Greinke of Villa Park; three daughters, Melinda Griffith of Macdoel, Melissa Sliffe of Vista and Ellen O'Keefe of Roseburg, Ore.; two sisters, Ruth Skoein of Pleasantville and Martha Nordin of San Clemente; brother, William Greinke of Simi Valley; 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Services will be held at Holy Family Cathedral at 566 S. Glassell St. Orange, where there will be a 7:30 p.m. rosary Friday and a noon mass Saturday, followed by burial at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.

Former Tustin mayor and entrepreneur, Frank Greinke, died Tuesday from complications of a stroke.

Born on Dec. 31, 1931, in Joliet, Ill., he came to California at the age of 14. He was 73 at the time of his death.

Greinke, who attended Pepperdine University, believed in community service. He was a past president of the Tustin Chamber of Commerce. For many years, he was a member of the Tustin Lions Club and served as president there, as well.

He also was a knight in the Order of Malta, an ancient international service organization that will participate in his burial.

Choosing not to run for re-election, he served one term on the Tustin City Council, from 1982 to 1986. He served as mayor in 1985-86.

Tustin Area Man of the Year in 1973, Greinke was enthusiastic about the Tustin community. He was an original promoter of the annual Chili Cook-off, which has evolved into the El Camino Real Street Fair and Chili Cook-off. He was a founder of the Tustin Area Senior Center.

He became rich in the petroleum industry with his Southern Counties Oil Co. His business took him all around the world, especially to Soviet Georgia, where he started several businesses and did humanitarian work. When the Republic of Georgia was formed, he became the honorary consul general to the U.S. He was so loved in Georgia that a park is being named there for him.

Greinke wanted to bring his business acumen to the running of the city when he ran for City Council.

"Frank was a fine gentleman," said City Manager Bill Huston. "What was unique about him was that he was very passionate about private enterprise and being an entrepreneur. He was very passionate about the community. He thought government should be more efficient and effective. He though it should be run like a business but, to his credit, he came to understand the difference between the two, and he was able to blend them."

Those who served on the City Council with him remember Greinke fondly.

"Frank Greinke was a good friend," said Don Saltarelli. "He was kind, honest, gentle and giving. He did wonderful things for Tustin. He was a true ambassador for good will. His memory will live in my heart forever."

Ron Hoesterey also served with Greinke. He said, "I'm going to miss Frank deeply. He was a dear friend. He had friends all over the world. He was welcomed everywhere. He was a great ambassador, not only for Tustin, but as a great human being.

He was a very caring and compassionate individual."

Even those on the council who did not see eye to eye with Greinke respected him.

"He brought energy and a very savvy business sense to the council," said former council woman Ursula Kennedy.

"He brought pleasantness, even though we disagreed sometimes.

He taught me not to be disagreeable. He was very good for our morale."

While Greinke was on the council, Leslie Pontious was serving on the city Planning Commission.

"I was aware of the respect he held with both the planning commissioners and staff," Pontious said.

"He was a very strong, forthright person on the council. He worked very hard to improve the city.

"He was instrumental in moving the development of Tustin Ranch."

His wife, Margaret, remembers him this way, "I feel Frank belonged to the world. He never limited himself to anything. I'm receiving messages from all over the world, people he had such a huge impact on. He belonged to the world."

His son, Frank P. Greinke of Huntington Harbor, remembered his father with gratitude.

"He gave his family the greatest gift you could ever give -- the gift of opportunity."

Other survivors include son, Donovan Greinke of Villa Park; three daughters, Melinda Griffith of Macdoel, Melissa Sliffe of Vista and Ellen O'Keefe of Roseburg, Ore.; two sisters, Ruth Skoein of Pleasantville and Martha Nordin of San Clemente; brother, William Greinke of Simi Valley; 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Services will be held at Holy Family Cathedral at 566 S. Glassell St. Orange, where there will be a 7:30 p.m. rosary Friday and a noon mass Saturday, followed by burial at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.