Rita A. Gress, 89, of Ireland, passed away at 9:17 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at home.
She was born in Jasper on September 11, 1930, to Albert and Frances (Hauser) Fehribach. She married Lee A. Gress on April 22, 1950, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper. He preceded her in death on July 19, 2015.
She was a homemaker and lifetime farmer.
She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ireland, where she was a member of St. Ann’s Society, a Leader of the Holy Spirit Prayer Group, and the Long-Term Planning Committee, and she was also on the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and a past member of the PTA and the CFM. She was a 4-H Leader.
She enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking, sewing, and was an avid church member, enjoying Bible studies, many of which she led many. Rita also enjoyed praying the rosary.
Surviving are five daughters, Carla (David) Allbright and Becky (Dwain) Allbright, both of Mitchell, Linda (Gregory) Huls of Littleton, CO, Marg (Steve) Buechler of Ireland and Mary (David) Waninger of Chrisney; five sons, Duane (Diane) Gress of Ireland, Bob (Teresa) Gress of Huntingburg, Pat (Cindy) Gress and Stan (Julie) Gress, both of Ireland and Greg Gress of Denver, CO; 33 grandchildren and 47 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Jean Eck of Jasper, Delores Johnson of Swiz City and Patsy Dunkel of Jasper; and four brothers, John Fehribach of Melbourne, FL, Joe (Sandra) Fehribach and Tom (Carole) Fehribach, both of Jasper and Jim Fehribach, Haysville.
Preceding her in death besides her husband were three sisters, Lucille Crockett and Rosie Hopf, and Viola Fehribach, who died in infancy, and one brother, Karl Fehribach.
Private funeral services for Rita A. Gress were held at the Becher-Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at a later date at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ireland, with burial in the church cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church Building Fund or to a favorite charity. Online condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.
