Kerry Lee Griess
October 20, 1954 - July 3, 2026
OBITUARY
On July 3rd, 2026, Kerry Lee Griess lost his battle with cancer and passed from this present life. He was 71 years old and a long time resident of Ceres, California. He lived briefly in Sandy Oregon. Kerry was on vacation with family near The Redwoods National Park at the time of his death.
Kerry was born in Mesa, Arizona on October 20, 1954, to Herbert and Nancy Griess. He lived with his family in Phoenix, Arizona until the late 1950’s when they relocated to Modesto, where he grew up on an almond farm also helping his family with growing fruits, vegetables and raising livestock.
Kerry was baptized into the Church of Christ during his teen years and faithfully served his Lord and fellow brethren throughout his life.
In 1972 Kerry graduated from Modesto High School, then received an Associate of Arts degree from Modesto Junior College in 1978.
Following college, he worked as an auto mechanic at various local shops, including Storer Transportation for several years. In 2006 Kerry retired from Silgan, a metal can manufacturer in Riverbank, after being employed there for 20 years. During retirement he worked part time for Rover, taking care of other people’s dogs and sometimes cats in his home. It was a labor of love for him, leading to new friendships.
Kerry was known for being a gentle and trusting soul who would frequently start conversations with total strangers. He had a generous, loving, and caring heart, insistent upon taking family and friends out to restaurants, or serving them one of his special recipes at home as often as possible. His nieces and nephews held a special place in his heart. Kerry would lavish them with generous gifts for birthdays and holidays. He would sometimes repair people’s cars at no cost, out of the goodness of his heart. His interests included all things automotive (especially related to Fords), gardening, cooking, art work (especially painting), playing his guitars, and just enjoying music in general. But above all he loved God, always striving to walk according to His will in his daily walk of life.
Preceded in death by his parents, Kerry is survived by his sisters, Linda (and her husband, Mike Bryant) of Santa Maria, and Carolyn Griess of Nipomo, his brother, Jeff Griess, (and his wife, Kimberly née Dunnagan), of Sandy, Oregon, three nieces, three nephews, four great nieces and three great nephews.
VISITATION
A viewing was held at 10 A.M. and a graveside service at 11 A.M. at Cherokee Memorial Park
in Lodi on July 25th.. A celebration of life luncheon followed at the J. Charles Irwin Reception
Center, at Cherokee Memorial Park.
Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Griess family.
Please leave your condolences below.