Gordon Lee Voss

Gordon Lee Voss, 85, of Bowling Green, MO, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Luther Manor Retirement and Nursing Center, where he had been a resident since October 2024. Gordon was born on June 11, 1939, in rural Pike County, MO to the late Donovan and Mary (Hearn) Voss. Although his family moved to Pueblo, CO in 1942, he always considered Missouri his home. As a teen, Gordon traveled back to his grandparent’s farm by train, each summer. He graduated in 1957 from Centennial High School, Pueblo, CO and later attended Hannibal LaGrange College. Gordon was employed by Pueblo Surgical Supply immediately after graduating. It was 1959 when he decided to make Missouri his permanent home. Upon leaving Colorado, he proudly told his (then) girlfriend, when she was ready to get married, to let him know and he would return to get her. The following year Gordon married Judith Ann Titus on July 9, 1960, at Park Hill Baptist Church, Pueblo, CO. After an overnight stay in Canon City, the newlyweds traveled to Bowling Green, MO arriving at the home of Al “Trigger” Gibbs, who had invited them to stay while he was out of town. Early the next morning, they woke up to cold water being showered on them through the bedroom window via a garden hose, by Trigger himself!! After this very brief honeymoon, they made their home in rural Lincoln County, MO. Gordon was employed by the Eastern Missouri Telephone Company from 1959 – 1988; beginning as a lineman in the field and ultimately becoming a supervisor at the Middletown office, until the company was sold. After nearly 30 years of being known as “The Telephone Man”, he attempted to retire from the industry, several times in fact. Gordon found that he truly enjoyed the work, camaraderie and teaching opportunities more than most. He went on to spend the next 25+ years with Communications Engineers and Finley Engineering as a consultant to bring fiber optic technology to rural independent telephone companies and as a ground audit coordinator. One of the most challenging, critical and rewarding times was during the Flood of 1993. Gordon spent night and day on a pontoon boat in Grafton, IL maintaining and restoring communication services to small communities. He established lifelong friendships with those that he worked with and was always ready to offer guidance or simply ‘catch up’. Gordon loved the outdoors and wide-open spaces. In 1964, he and Judy purchased a small farm in Olney, MO. Ruben Edwards told him, “If you are going to have a farm, you need to have pigs!” Ruben believed in this so strongly that he delivered a sow to the farm himself, the very next day. This began a lifelong farming partnership between the Voss and Edwards families and is how Gordon began his journey raising purebred Hampshire pigs. The families often traveled to type conferences in nearby states to compete in the swine arena. Gordon went on to serve as Secretary of the Missouri Hampshire Breeders Association for over 25 years. In 1976 he took an opportunity to expand the pig and crop ground, by purchasing a larger farm near New Hartford, MO. They remained at this family farm until 2011, at which time they moved to Bowling Green, MO. As an active member of the rural areas in which he lived, you could find Gordon serving on the school board, coaching Khoury League Baseball in Silex, sharing his electrical and woodworking knowledge with both the Lincoln and Pike County 4-H clubs and serving as a Deacon at the Olney Baptist Church. He was also a member of the Nineveh Masonic Lodge #473, receiving his 50-year membership pin in 2012. In his free time, Gordon loved to fish, watch Gunsmoke, eat fried pies from D&L Bakery, visit with his friends at Eicher’s Cabinet Shop, grow way too many tomato plants and meticulously maintain the most lush weed free yard you’ve ever seen. He enjoyed playing cards, checkers and yard games where scores and winning mattered. Gordon loved to make the littles laugh with his handkerchief mouse. He spent many hours in his shed assisting neighbors with repairs, building furniture, crafting toys, and completing projects for his grandchildren. Gordon had the utmost patience when it came to teaching kids how to drive nails, build toy cars, paint and get dirty. He and Judy made frequent trips to Branson, MO taking in 3-4 music shows daily while enjoying good food. Evenings were enjoyed sitting on the back porch and visiting with his neighbors. Gordon is survived by his wife of 64 years, Judy of Bowling Green, MO; daughters Leann (the late Cole) Gleason of Kirksville, MO and Karen (Craig) Wilson of Greenville, SC; grandchildren Megan (Shannon Bardwell) McClanahan of Warrensburg, MO, Molly (Makenna) Cook of Lee’s Summit, MO, Christian (Ashley) Wilson of Simpsonville, SC, Elijah (Brittany) Wilson of Greenville, SC and Benjamin (Kathryn Shillinglaw) Wilson of Spartanburg, SC as well as great grandson, Brooks Gordon Wilson of Simpsonville, SC. He was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, William John and Helen Kae Voss. Gordon’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. He has always had a strong faith and looks forward to seeing you in Heaven! Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, with the family receiving friends from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Bibb-Veach Funeral Home in Bowling Green, MO. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 PM in the chapel of the Bibb-Veach Funeral Home, with Pastor Jim Craig officiating. Interment will immediately follow in the Vandalia Cemetery. The pallbearers are Scott Craig, Jim Edwards, John Edwards, Paul Hill, Mike Schumacher and Gary Young. Honorary pallbearers are those friends associated with the telephone industry. To celebrate Gordon’s love of all youth and education, memorial donations may be made to: Cole Gleason Memorial Fund or Every Child Every Day. The funds will be used locally to further advance youth education in the auto parts industry and in shooting sports, as well as provide food to at risk children. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Bibb Veach Funeral Home, 606 West Main St., Bowling Green, MO 63334.

Gordon Lee Voss

June 11, 1939 - February 11, 2025