Elward James “Eldy” Hiss, Jr., 96, loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and friend died October 17, 2023, at Azria Health Woodhaven, Great Bend, Kan. He was born July 10, 1927, in Great Bend, the second son of Elward J. Hiss, Sr. and Carrie (Williams) Hiss. He married JoAnn Gallon on October 26, 1947, at the First Presbyterian Church in Great Bend, and they were married for 73 years until her passing on May 7, 2020.
A lifetime Great Bend resident, Eldy was born and raised on the family farm in Buffalo Township. Eldy was a partner in Hiss Dairy and Hiss, Inc. Farm. He attended District 33 rural school and graduated from Great Bend High School Class of 1945, in which he was senior class President. He was a member and on the governing boards for First Presbyterian Church of Great Bend, Presbyterian Men’s Club, treasurer of Buffalo Township for 25 years, a Charter member of Great Bend Evening Lions Club, a lifetime member of B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge #1127, past board member and President of Great Bend Coop Association and a member of the Barton County Historical Society. He enjoyed traveling, photography, friends and his family but especially loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Survivors include, his children, Richard L. "Rick" Hiss and wife Tina, Sandra K. “Sandy” Hiss, and Elward James Hiss, III "Jim" and wife Melinda, all of Great Bend; four grandchildren, Michelle (Aaron) Peck of Salina, Bradley (Nikki) Hiss of Great Bend, E.J. Hiss (finacé Kayla Cooley) of Des Moines, Iowa, and Veronica (Tim) Bush of Great Bend; three great grandchildren, Adia Grace Peck, Noah Preston Peck and Anthony Richard Hiss; and a sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth Hiss Brower (Al) of Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, JoAnn Hiss; a brother and sister-in-law, John and Mabel Hiss; and a sister and brother-in-law, Patricia (Hiss) and Phil Friedeman.
Celebration of Life service will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 26, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church, Great Bend, with Rev. Kathleen Luke presiding. A Private Family Inurnment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church, Great Bend Evening Lions Club or Barton County Historical Society, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.