Charles R. Gress, 85, of Seneca, Kansas died Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

Charles was born on January 27, 1928 on a farm northeast of Seneca, the son of Aloysius and Lorena Tanking Gress. When he was two years old the family moved to a farm near Baileyville. In 1933 they moved to a farm near St. Bridget. In 1937 the family moved to the Gress homestead northeast of Seneca. He attended school in St. Bridget and Seneca, graduating from Sts. Peter & Paul High School in 1945.

After school he worked in St. Joseph for the Armour Company and in Kansas City for General Motors. Later he did custom baling.

Charles was drafted into the U.S. Army on October 18, 1950 and served in the 4th Quartermaster Company 4th Division APO 39. He served 18 months in Germany in support of the 5th Army. He was discharged on October 7, 1952.

After military service, he worked at Winterscheidt Milling and Goodyear in Topeka. He then returned to farming in Nemaha County.

On May 22, 1954 he married Ann Heideman at St. Patrick’s Church in Corning. They farmed near Goff for a year, and then near Mercier for five years before moving back to farm and operate a dairy near Seneca. Charles retired from dairy farming in 1990. He and Ann built a new home and moved into Seneca in 1996.

He was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s Society, and the parish council in Seneca. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1769 and the American Legion Post #21 in Seneca. He enjoyed playing cards with family and friends, and delivering Meals on Wheels. Charles did woodworking, making toys for his grandkids and making monstrances that were sent to missions around the world.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Allie in 1985 and Lorena in 1997; and brothers, Leonard Gress in 1959 and Emmett Gress in 1931.

Besides his wife Ann, he is survived by his children, Kathleen (Wes) Elkins of Kansas City, Missouri, Joseph (Ron) Gress of Niles, Michigan, Jean (Richard) Wassenberg of Seneca, Richard Gress of Seneca, Mary (Patrick) Shields of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Doris Palmer of Lenox, Massachusetts, John (Gwendolyn) Gress of Boulder, Colorado, Larry (Michele) Gress of Overland Park, Randy (Nancy) Gress of Merriam, Brian (Ann) Gress of Omaha, Nebraska; a brother, Norbert Gress of Seneca, three sisters, Dorothy Dick of Platte City, Missouri, Eleanor Heideman of Seneca and Arlene Haverkamp of Seneca; 18 grandchildren, Melissa Elkins, Josh Elkins, Zachary Wassenberg, Adam Wassenberg, Katie Wassenberg, Kevin Shields, James Shields, Anna Shields, Travis Palmer, Daniel Palmer, Amanda Gress, Kyle Gress, Elizabeth Gress, Jackson Gress, Sarah Gress, Olivia Gress, Keegan Gress, Carter Gress; and two great-grandchildren.

Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Friday, March 8, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM Saturday, March 9, at the Knights of Columbus Building in Seneca. Burial will be with military honors in Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Seneca.

Memorial contributions can be given for the Sts. Peter & Paul Restoration Fund and/or the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital Cardiac Rehab Department, and sent in care of the family.