Lee A. Gress, 86
Lee A. Gress, 86, of Ireland, passed away at 3:03 p.m. Sunday, July 19, 2015, in Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper.
Lee was born at home in Ireland, Indiana, on April 7, 1929 to Anton and Margaret (Lampert) Gress. He married Rita Fehribach on April 22, 1950 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper.
Lee was a lifetime farmer who farmed for 75 years. He was also loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather to his 98 descendants.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ireland, Indiana, the Ireland K of C, where he was past president and Grand Knight, and the Ireland Lions Club, where he was past treasurer. He was a founder and president of the Patoka Valley Upper Conservancy District. He was very active in 4-H, where he was a past president of the Extension Board, and a member of the Swine Committee. He was also on the advisory board of the FFA.
Lee and his wife, Rita, were awarded the Simon Brute award the first year it was given.
He enjoyed carpentry, traveling, and visiting family.
He is survived by his wife, Rita Gress of Ireland; five daughters, Carla Allbright and her husband David of Mitchell, Becky Allbright and her husband Dwain of Huron, Ind., Linda Huls and her husband Gregory of Littleton, Colo., Marg Buechler and her husband Steve of Ireland, and Mary Waninger and her husband David of Chrisney; five sons, Duane Gress and his wife Diane of Ireland, Bob Gress and his wife Teresa of Jasper, Pat Gress and his wife Cindy of Ireland, Stan Gress and his wife Julie of Ireland, and Greg Gress of Denver, Colo.; 33 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Clara Mae Braunecker of Ireland, Mitz Lanham and her husband Bob of Plainfield, Ind., Naomi Gress of Jasper, and Diana Buechlein and her husband Gene of Fischers; one brother, Wilfred Gress and his wife Helen of Ireland; one sister-in-law, Judy Gress of Jasper.
Preceding him in death are two brothers, Rich and Virgil Gress.
Funeral services for Lee A. Gress will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2015, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ireland, with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Friends may call from 2:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2015, at the Becher-Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Building Fund or to a favorite charity.
Online condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.
