Paul E Gress

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Paul Gress, age 88 of Olympia Fields, Illinois passed away on June 28, 2018.  Preceded  in death by his beloved wife, Estelle (nee Luberda) of 62 years; Loving Father to William (Denise) Gress and Joan (Greg) Stevens; Cherished Dziadzia to Tyler Gress, Kaylie Stevens and Kyle Stevens; Dear Uncle to many nieces and nephews. Beloved brother to Mary (nee Greskovich) Pataky and the late Andrew Greskovich. Paul graduated from Whiting High School in Indiana and received his BS in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 1952.  He remained a Boilermaker fan his whole life and was a football season ticket holder for over 55 years creating years of great family weekends for his children and grandchildren.  He worked for Lord Corporation for over 35 years traveling from Vancouver to San Francisco providing track technology for the public transit, light, passenger, and freight rail industry.  Most notably he worked on the Vancouver, Canada transit system, San Francisco€™s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) and the CTA Rapid Transit into Chicago€™s O€™Hare Airport.  After retiring from Lord Corporation, Paul worked for American Track Systems where he traveled to the Philippines and Europe, including a trip to his birth place of Zborov, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) – a highlight of his travels that he loved to talk about.  He was a devoted Dad and Dziadzia who, with his wife, Estelle, would attend every game, or performance to cheer on his kids and grandkids.  He was extremely generous, loving to treat his family to Disney vacations, bowl game trips or a great steak dinner. He loved to get together with family and friends and never wanted the party to end.  He was loud and opinionated and equally loving and loyal.  His guidance, love, commitment to family, and sense of humor will be missed.In lieu of flowers donations to Bloom Foundation – c/o Paul Nykaza or Berta Kennedy District 206 (708) 758-7000 or South Suburban Humane Society in Chicago Heights, Illinois.Visitation Friday, July 6, 2018 from 2:00PM to 8:00PM at Kerr-Parzygnot Funeral Home 540 Dixie Hwy. (at Joe Orr Road), Chicago Heights, IL.  Funeral mass at 10:30AM on Saturday at Infant Jesus of Prague, Douglas Avenue, Flossmoor, Illinois.   Interment:   Assumption Catholic Cemetery. Info:  708-754-0016