Gess, Lowell Arthur age 100, passed away June 21, 2022 in his Alexandria, Minnesota home. Dr. Gess was preceded in death by wife Ruth Adabelle (Bradley) Gess, parents Arthur and Frances Gess, and sister, June Malin. He is survived by children Tim (Joanne) Gess, Mary (Steve) Boehlke, Elizabeth (Robert) Hopkins, John (Ruth) Gess, Paul (Arlet) Gess and Andrew (Carrie) Gess, 16 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. Dr. Gess was born July 13, 1921 in Paynesville, Minnesota. He attended Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota, Evangelical Theological (Garrett) Seminary in Naperville, Illinois, and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. An ophthalmology residency was completed at University of Minnesota under Dr. John Harris. At a very early age Dr. Gess believed God called him to be a medical missionary. He met and married his wife, Ruth, who also shared a similar call to medical mission work. Together they served in West Africa as medical missionaries for over 50 years. Beginning in 1952 Dr. Gess and wife Ruth began their service in Bambur, Nigeria, followed by many years of service in Sierra Leone. They established a prominent eye clinic in Kissy, SL, which is still flourishing to this day. In addition to offering quality eye care, Kissy has also become a center for research related to the Ebola outbreak. Many of his experiences have been documented in the seven books he has written including "Tender Moments in Ministry" (2018). Among his many honors Dr. Gess received Sierra Leone's highest civilian award, the Order of the Rokel, in 1991 as well as the Charles J. Turck Global Citizen Award from Macalester College, and in 2020 the Chang Humanitarian Award from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. A celebration of life service is scheduled for 3 p.m. July 17, 2022, at the Alexandria Evangelical Covenant Church. Memorials to Central Global Vision Fund.