Dwight Alan Gressel was born in Columbus, Indiana, on December 2, 1948, and died at home in Springfield, Missouri, on September 21, 2026.

Dwight married Barbara Clark on August 16, 1980, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He loved Barb very much and also loved her daughters, Becky and Beth, whom he raised from ages six and eight. He loved his role as a father.

He enjoyed all his family. He and Barb got together with the Gressel family regularly, especially enjoying trips to Columbus, Indiana and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Dwight loved playing cards and games. He and Barb made many friends playing Canasta and Joker. Dwight also stayed close to one group of friends from high school. He and Barb tried to get together with the other four couples about once a year. Frank, Gary, Steve, and Allen were the friends whom Dwight cherished.

Dwight was a very proud Purdue University alum, having graduated in 1971 with a degree in Industrial Management. Boilermakers, basketball, and football were rarely missed on the Gressel TV.

Early in his career, Dwight was a management consultant and traveled a great deal; that is how an Indiana man met a woman from Kansas City. Later he worked for Fasco Industries in Ozark, Missouri, as well as for other companies that required a great deal of travel.

Dwight loved traveling, and he and Barb visited many places around the world. He liked to see “old stuff.” He especially enjoyed going to Jerusalem and walking the streets where Jesus walked.

Most of all, Dwight loved the Lord. He became a Christian as a young boy and in 2004 he was called to serve as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. He served in Marshfield as Associate Pastor and as Pastor in Elkland, Haynes Chapel, and Strafford. He dearly loved the members of all his churches, and he became lasting friends with many other pastors.

Dwight was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert K. and Stella (Davis) Gressel, as well as by his brothers: Ron Gressel and Eric Gressel; his sister, Sue Gressel Webb, and brother-in-law Otis Webb.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters, Becky, and Beth; grandchildren, Sam, Cameron, Seth, and Jake; and by his brother Daryl Gressel, sisters-in-law, Diana Gressel, Helen Gressel, Linda Lord Gressel, and Linda Garrett Gressel, and brother-in-law Terry Schwatken.