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Richard Alan Gress

Seneca, Kansas

03/20/1959 - 07/06/2020

Richard Alan Gress, 61, of Seneca died on Monday, July 6, 2020 at his home in Seneca.

Richard was born on March 20, 1959 to Charles and Ann Heideman Gress near Mercier, Kansas. Attended grade school at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School and graduated from Nemaha Valley High Schoool in 1978. Richard was one of the top dairymen in Nemaha County for the last 40 years. He was a leader in adopting new technologies that are now widely used in local dairy farms including artificial insemination, total mixed rations, use of byproduct feeds and no-till farming practices. In 1994, he was the first farmer in Nemaha County to buy and use a large square hay baler. This led to a very successful custom baling side business. Over the years, Richard received many dairy awards including the Mid America Dairymen Young Cooperator Contest in the mid-1990s.

Richard was a single man and did not have children. Over the last 30 years, he employed and mentored dozens of young people to help with his dairy operation and custom baling business. Many of these have themselves become successful farmers.

Richard has been an active and loyal member of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council 1769 throughout his life.

Richard served as a Gilman Township treasurer from 2008 to 2020. His main responsibility in this position was making sure that Township funds were well managed.

Richard was a hard worker but also lived a calm and joyful life. He appreciated visits to his farm from siblings and cousins but especially from his nieces and nephews. Richard was a great friend to many in the Seneca community.

Richard was born near Mercier, Kansas. When he was 1 year old, he and his family moved to the farm 4 miles northeast of Seneca where he lived the rest of his life. Before Richard took over the farm in 1990, it was owned and operated by his great uncle, Fred Heideman and then by his parents. The farm has been in the Heideman-Gress family for over 100 years.

Richard was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor, Stage IV Glioblastoma, in March 2017. While he knew from when he got the diagnosis that his days were numbered, he found a way to continue to live each day with joy and to generously give to the community he loved until the very end.

He is survived by his mother and his siblings Kathleen (Wes) Elkins of Lenexa, Joseph (Ron Robinson) Gress of Niles, MI, Jean (Rich) Wassenberg of Seneca, Mary (Patrick) Shields of Fort Smith, AR, Doris Palmer of Lafayette, CO, John (Gwendolyn Farnsworth) Gress of Boulder, CO, Larry (Michele) Gress of Overland Park, Randy (Nancy) Gress of Merriam, Brian (Ann) Gress of Omaha, NE and 18 nieces and nephews.

 

The family requests that a mask be worn.

Rosary/Wake at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 8th will also be live-streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdEibVgrKVw&feature=youtu.be

Funeral at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 9th will also be live-streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1705Sf7WQjs&feature=youtu.be

 

The family requests that a mask be worn.

Rosary/Wake at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 8th will also be live-streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdEibVgrKVw&feature=youtu.be

Funeral at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 9th will also be live-streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1705Sf7WQjs&feature=youtu.be

 

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17 Comments

  1. Greg Hulsing on July 6, 2020 at 7:39 pm

    RIP good neighbor..you fought hard..prayers 2 the families

  2. Josh L Buser on July 7, 2020 at 9:39 am

    Praying for Richard and the family. So sorry for your loss

  3. Carol Kohake on July 7, 2020 at 10:30 am

    Richard fought a tough battle and now he has his reward in heaven. God Bless all of you!

  4. Max Rettele on July 7, 2020 at 12:49 pm

    Rest in peace Richard and condolences to his family. I will always remember him as a really good friend and classmate growing up and graduating with him in 1978.

  5. Karen Vicory on July 7, 2020 at 1:18 pm

    My condolences to Richard’s family and friends. The Seneca community and class of 1978 has lost a kind and good man.

  6. Fr. Roderic Giller OSB on July 7, 2020 at 1:54 pm

    A fine Christian gentleman, faithful Catholic and loyal friend!

  7. Beth Conwell on July 7, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    I don’t think I’ve met a nicer, funnier or more gentle man in my life, and I’m so proud to be his distant cousin. I only got to meet him once with my daughter Sara as we were passing through Seneca, but what an amazing afternoon. He was a happy, proud and successful dairy farmer, and I loved that he was working with the neighbor boys on the farm. The world has lost a very good man, but heaven is now 100 times more wonderful. Rest in peace, Richard.

  8. Al Funk on July 7, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    Sorry to hear of Richard’s passing. I hadn’t heard about his health issues, therefore was shocked and saddened to hear of his death. I knew him well since the early 80s and everytime I stopped was greeted with the warm smile he always wore. God Bless, my friend. May you rest in the arms of our Lord.

  9. Larry Gress on July 7, 2020 at 4:51 pm

    Rosary/Wake at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 8th will also be live-streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdEibVgrKVw&feature=youtu.be
    Funeral at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 9th will also be live-streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1705Sf7WQjs&feature=youtu.be

  10. Loyola Engelken on July 7, 2020 at 5:01 pm

    He was a wonderful person, always had a smile for everyone. Prayers for his loving family.

    • Marci Edelman Grimm on July 9, 2020 at 12:52 pm

      So many memories of my time working on the dairy with my sister Anita back in high school!! Richard was the sweetest guy I think I’ve ever met! So patient n kind, we had some great talks during our milkings together! I stopped by to see him a couple months ago and he so eagerly took me out back to show me his bird nests and chatted and chatted! It’s so hard to believe he is gone, but thankful he isn’t suffering from his pain anymore! Love and prayers to all of you and especially Ann!! Give her a hug from me!!

  11. Joe Orth & Robbie Orth on July 7, 2020 at 5:57 pm

    Rest in Peace, Richard. You and the family in our prayers.

  12. Martin Huerter on July 7, 2020 at 7:34 pm

    Richard had a such sweet gentle soul…..and could do more pull-ups than anyone in the SPPS 4th grade. RIP

  13. Mike Henry on July 8, 2020 at 7:53 am

    he was truly a genuine friend would always do anything for anyone our sympathy and prayers to the family mike and rose mary henry

  14. Jim & Vivian(Gudenkauf) Martin on July 8, 2020 at 1:02 pm

    Sorry to hear of the loss of your loved one. You are in our thoughts and prayers praying that God will give you comfort during your time of sorrow

  15. Roger Hulsing on July 8, 2020 at 4:39 pm

    Richard always had a smile on his face.Known him for many years
    Gone to soon.Prayers for Richard and his family.

  16. Loretta Spromberg on July 9, 2020 at 7:31 pm

    God Bless Richard and all your family. A life deeply well-lived. Loretta Spromberg

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