Lawrence Griess

Sutton resident Lawrence Griess, 91, passed away Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton, NE.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Monday, February 17, 2025, at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Sutton, NE with Pastor Carl Gobelman officiating. Interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery in Sutton, NE. Visitation will be Sunday, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with the family present from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, NE.
Funeral services will be live-streamed from Sutton Memorial Chapel's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/suttonmemorial.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Emmanuel Reformed Church or the Sutton Community Home Foundation.
Lawrence was born on September 17, 1933, in Sutton, NE, to Gideon and Johanna Griess and was the oldest of their eleven children. He was baptized as an infant and confirmed at Hope Reformed Church in 1948. He was a member of Emmanuel Reformed Church, Sutton, NE.
Lawrence attended country school and graduated from Sutton High School in 1950. At age 18 he was employed at the Hastings Nebraska Ammunition Depot. Lawrence served his country in the United States Army from 1955-56 and was honorably discharged. He graduated from Fairbury Junior College in 1959.
On August 16, 1959, Lawrence married Opal Frieden at Zion Lutheran Church in Shickley, NE. To this union three children were born, Gail, Beth and Joni.
After his marriage, Lawrence was the manager of Bixby Grain Elevator, bookkeeper at Sutton Co-op Grain, Clay County Treasurer for ten years and Clay County Supervisor for twenty years. In 1975, he became a full-time crop farmer with a cow/calf operation.
Lawrence enjoyed playing fast-pitch softball, bowling, fishing, golfing, reading, watching sports and traveling with their fifth-wheel camper, spending winters in the south after retiring.
Lawrence is survived by his wife of 65 years, Opal; son, Gail (Deb) Griess of Sutton; daughters, Beth (Ron) Fitzke of Harvard; and Joni Griess of Garden City, KS; brothers, Don (Karen) Griess and Kenneth (Carol) Griess; sisters, Inez (Don) Krass; Jeannine Rath; Aldine (Ron) Rowe; and Erna Griess; brother-in-law, Bob Harrison; sisters-in-law, Ila (Wayne) Nelson and Sherrill Crone; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Extended family includes Bill (Joyce) Blumer; Jessica (AJ) Fruchtl; Cade, Jack and Reed Fruchtl; Stephanie (Matt) Laetsch; Gina Osterhaus and Abigail Osterhaus.
Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law; brothers, Robert and Wesley Griess; sisters, Mary Ann Shunkwiler and Kathleen Harrison; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Shunkwiler; Claton Frieden; Earl Frieden; and Gerald Crone; sisters-in-law, Sharon Kay Griess; Sharon Ann Griess; Velda Frieden and Barbara Frieden; niece, Lori Nelson; and nephews, Craig Crone; and Adam Shunkwiler.