A Lifetime of Giving Back

When you first meet Greg Wacek, he comes across as easy-going, good-humored, with all the time in the world. All subsequent impressions confirm it. And yet, the guy never stops. Giving, that is. And doing.

“There’s tremendous satisfaction in doing the Lord’s work,” he said.

His list of volunteer activities is proof. Through Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Community, where he’s been a member since 1977, Greg led five mission trips to Mississippi to help rebuild homes after Katrina. One Saturday a month Greg volunteers with Urban Homeworks. And he’s always available to handle repairs at church.

Recently, Greg concentrated his volunteer energy on IOCP’s housing development project in Wayzata, Boulevard Apartments. Greg served as general contractor, volunteer coordinator, and project coordinator.

“Most Saturdays you would find me there, and days when a volunteer group was scheduled,” he
said.

Greg managed all of this on top of running his own business, Hossnpat Construction. And operating a farm in Olivia, where his first carpentry project as a kid—a shed where he raised pigs—still stands.

As if the past 30 years have been warm-up to what he plans to accomplish in the future, he said, “As I get older, I want to start giving back.”

Greg Wacek, with his huge heart, boundless desire to give back, and capacity to take on any project with grace and good humor, exemplifies the best of the best.