Thomas Clarence Kress, 82, Yates Center, passed away Friday, Jan. 22, 2016, at Allen County Regional Hospital in Iola.
He was born Dec. 29, 1933, in Piqua, one of the seven children of Albert John Kress Sr. and Clara Josephine (King) Kress.
He grew up on the family farm west of Piqua and graduated from Yates Center High School. Following school he farmed and worked as a mechanic at Habiger Studebaker-Case in Iola. In 1956 he entered the United States Army serving in active duty and later the reserves. Following his discharge from the Army, he returned to Piqua and farmed until 1973 when he moved to Yates Center. He was employed by the Woodson County Road and Bridge Department, first as a road grader operator, and when he retired he was the shop foreman.
In his leisure time Tom loved to take long trips on his motorcycle visiting different parts of the United States.
Tom was a member of St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Piqua until transferring his membership to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Yates Center in 1974.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Robert, Albert J. “John” and Charles Kress; and a sister, Mary Lou Taylor.
He leaves his children, Jeffery Kress and wife Gayle, Tonganoxie, and Anita Haar and husband Brian, Iola; four grandchildren, Keely McCoy and Austin, Addison and Blake Haar; two sisters, Rose Ann Breckinridge, Westminster, Colo., and Dorothea Jean Nichols, Casper, Wyo.; a number of nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Piqua. A Rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church.
The family will meet with friends from 6 to 7 tonight at Campbell Funeral Home in Yates Center.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility and may be sent in care of Campbell Funeral Home, PO Box 188, Yates Center, KS 66783.
Thomas Kress
