Alfred E. Gries

Alfred (Al) E. Gries, 83, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away Thursday, April 23, 2026, surrounded by his family at a local hospital. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, June 27 from 2-4 pm at the Sergeant Bluff Community Center Fireside Room.

Al was born June 1, 1942 in Grant Center, Iowa. He was the son of Clarence and Laura (Gray) Gries. He grew up in Mapleton, Iowa where he graduated from Mapleton High School in 1960. Al married the love of his life, Betty Viken, on January 11, 1969, and they were blessed with four children; Chuck, Joe, Sue, and Craig.

Throughout his life, Al was a man of several talents and passions, pursuing various activities and professions over many years. He worked for Stultz Plumbing, Sioux Gateway Airport, and he ran his own business, known locally as Al’s Tackle Shop. Al took great pride in helping to build the West High softball field and enjoyed watching his daughter play on it. While living on South Judd, he loved to spend time making an ice rink in the park for the neighborhood kids. Al was always giving back to others in various ways.

Al enjoyed fishing and taking fishing trips to Canada. He also loved bowling, watching sports, and going to his kids’ and grandkids’ activities. He could tell you every sports statistic of his grandkids and absolutely loved watching Caitlin Clark.

Left here to cherish his memory are his wife of 57 years, Betty, three children; Joe (Angela) Gries, Sue (Jamie) McWilliams, and Craig (Karlys) Gries, a brother, Dennis (Debbie) Gries, seven grandchildren; Alisha Williams, Adam Gries, Jessalyn Cartwright, Amber Trujillo, Samantha Fleckenstein, Tanner McWilliams, and Rylee Stephan, several great grandchildren, and friends including Dave Jensen, Marc Gorsett, Bob and Mary Kay Powell, the Christophersons, and his 10 am Coffee Club.

He was welcomed into heaven by his parents, his brother, Franklin Gries, his sister Lois and her husband Phil Olsen, his mother and father-in-law, and his son, Chuck.

It was once said “the best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” Those acts of kindness and love that Al shared through his life live on through his family and those close to him. You were blessed if you had known Al, and he made sure you knew he was glad to know you.