Marvin Gess

Marvin “Bud” E. Gess Jr., age 87, of Ortonville, MN, passed away on Monday, March 11, 2019, at Milbank Care and Rehabilitation Center in Milbank, SD.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Rev. David Tonn will officiate.  A private burial will be at a later date.

Marvin “Bud” Gess Jr. was born on March 17, 1931, in Odessa, MN, to Marvin E. Gess Sr. and Alice Torgerson. Bud attended and graduated from Ortonville High School. He moved to Minneapolis, MN, where he worked for Swift & Company, and then he moved to Bloomington, MN.

Insurance was Bud’s passion and he was very good at his trade. He opened his own office, “Insurance Pros”, placing new insurance agents. Bud was an avid fisherman, hunter, gardener, and storyteller. He was a master at Cribbage, and he made friends wherever he went.

Bud was a member of Transfiguration Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN.  Bud entered the United States Army on January 16, 1951, and was honorably discharged on August 26, 1952.

Bud is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Gail Gess of Milbank, SD; children: Debbie (Don) Fisher of Butte, MT; Sharon (Bob) Reid of Delano, MN; Karen Holmes of Lakeville, MN; Doug Gess of Ortonville, MN; Paul (Patti) Gess of Sparks, NV; and Jim Gess of Shakopee, MN; grandchildren: Kiyoshi, Nicole, Donnie, Haley, Kenzie, Ellie, Hunter, Jim, Jenny, Danielle, and Jesse; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Marvin Sr. and Alice; and sister, Sonja Gess.