Elizabeth Gereau Kress 1918-2013

GEREAU, KRESS, KISTING, BIVER

Posted By: j.n. (email)
Date: 9/20/2014 at 23:43:05

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Elizabeth E. "Betty" Kress, 94, formerly of 740 Link St., died at 8 a.m., Saturday, August 17, 2013 at Stonehill Care Center, Dubuque.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 24,2013 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, 1230 Rush St. Dubuque, with the Rev. Gabriel Anderson presiding. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Key West. Friends may call from 4 to 7p.m. Friday, at Behr's Funeral Home, Dubuque, where there will be a wake service at 7 p.m.

She was born on Dec. 23, 1918, in Edgeley, North Dakota, the third oldest child of Frank and Anna Marie (Kisting) Gereau. She attended St. Columbkille Grade and High School, graduating in 1936. She married Hubert J. Kress, Jr., on July 16, 1945, at Nativity Catholic Church in Dubuque. He preceded her in death on November 17, 1976.

First and foremost Betty was a wife and mother. She also was an excellent bookkeeper and business manager many years ago at A.Y. McDonalds and Nabisco Company after attending Bayless Business College in Dubuque. She also applied those skills at Kress Confectionery (1947-1967); at Midland Chemical Co. (1967 – 1969); and as business manager at Stephen Hempstead High School (1969 – 1985) and handling athletic ticket sales (1985-2002) all in Dubuque.

She was a member of St. Columbkille Parish, and formerly a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Betty was a member of the 500 Club of the Iowa Women's Bowling Association and for many years, league secretary.

Betty enjoyed bowling for over 50 years in sanctioned leagues and eventually in a senior league. Fishing, playing cards, working outdoors and cheering for the Cubs and the Bears were among her favorite past times. She served as Girl Scout leader for both of her daughters' troops and followed and supported the Dubuque Colt 45 Drum and Bugle Corps in the 1960s and 70s. She loved to travel and drove many miles with her daughters to visit family and to enjoy the beauty of the United States. She served as bookkeeper for the International Presentation Association (1989 – 1995) and traveled to Australia and several states in the Midwest and Gulf Coast to meet Presentation Sisters and Associates.

She deeply loved her family and extended family and is survived by two daughters, Sister Beth (Judith) Kress, PBVM, and Jeanne Marie Kress both of Dubuque, brother-in-law Eldon A. "Fritz" Biver of Dubuque, sister-in-law Clarine (Beatty) Gereau of DeWitt and many devoted nieces and nephews.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Florence (Sister Virginia Gereau, PBVM); Dolores (Sister Victoria, PBVM); and Mary Virginia Gereau Biver; and two brothers, LeRoy Gereau and Frank Gereau, Jr.

An Elizabeth E. Kress memorial fund has been established.

The family would especially like to thank the staff of Stonehill Care Center, the staff of Hospice of Dubuque and Dr. Mark Moore for their compassion and care given to Betty.