Funeral services for William Carl Kress, 92, will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 2016, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Visitation will be 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Cullman Funeral Home and Sunday, March 20 from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Mr. Kress passed away Thursday, March 17 at his home surrounded by family and friends. He was born on December 8, 1923 in Cullman, Alabama to George and Marie Kress. He received a Purple Heart during his service in the US Army during WWII in the European Theater. After the war he returned to Cullman and started farming. He retired from farming, having operated a diversified farm with his brother, Robert Kress. He served as secretary and later president of the Alabama Sweet Potato Association and was the 1988 Cullman County Farm-City Outstanding Producer.
He was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, and was a member of the Walther League and Men's Club. He served on the evangelism committee, the building committee, and the St. Paul's school board. He was also a member of the Cullman Civitan Club for over 25 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, James Edward, his siblings, Frieda Bonds, Clara Howard, Albert Kress and Robert Kress. He is survived by his wife, Charlotte Seitz Kress; three children, John (Tara) Kress, Wanda (Kenny) Sussman, and Linda Grissom; two sisters-in-law, Odell Kress and Betty Kress; and four grandchildren, Patrick Grissom, Ben Grissom, Will Kress, and Katelyn Kress.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church or the charity of their choice.