Hastings resident Lorence O. Griess, 81, passed away Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Perkins Pavilion, Good Samaritan Society, Hastings Village. Memorial services were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Hope Reformed Church in Sutton, with Pastor Scott Henry officiating. Private graveside services took place at the Sutton Cemetery in Sutton. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later. Condolences may be left at www. suttonmemorial.com. Lorence O. Griess was born May 14, 1944, in Hastings to Oscar and Katherina (Griess) Griess. He received his education in Sutton and graduated from Sutton High School. He grew up going to the same school and church as Suzann. They dated each other since high school. On Aug. 23, 1962, he married Suzann Huber in Grafton and they had three children. He worked at Jack and Jill as a butcher for his mom and dad. He also helped his aunts and uncles on the farm working on their tractors; this is where his love for tinkering and working on cars came from. During this time, he became a Volunteer Fireman. He opened the meat locker in Sutton in 1974; Lorence and Suzann had to fix the walls and the floors before they could open the locker. He sold the locker 14 years later. During this time, he also restored old cars and entered them into car shows. His fun time with family included camping on the weekends. Lorence took an old school bus and transformed it into a camper. He bought a boat and took his family skiing. It was a great time with fishing poles and campfires down at Lake Lovewell. He admitted later in life that he didn’t like to fish; he just did it to hang out with his friends. After he sold the locker, he took a job doing maintenance with the Sutton Community Home until his retirement. After retiring, Lorence and Suzann made their home in Hastings, and they redid the interior and added some landscaping. Lorence continued tinkering on lawnmowers as a hobby. They also enjoyed going to garage sales on the weekends. Lorence really enjoyed his family and didn’t miss a holiday with them.

He is survived by his wife, Suzann of Hastings; brother, Rolland (Joan) Griess of Sutton; three children, Deann (Steve) Walton, Darrell (Renae) Griess, Douglas (Skye) Griess; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and his aunts and uncles.