Eleanor McCloskey

Eleanor McCloskey passed away November 27, 2024 at the age of 96 with her family in Colorado. 

Eleanor (Gress) was born on August 28, 1928 in Rastadt, Russia, the daughter of Anton and 

Pauline (Stolz) Gress. 

Eleanor’s family fled Russia in 1943, and after two years, they finally settled in Rotenburg, Germany in 1945. By the year 1950, Eleanor was married and had one son, John Horott. With the sponsorship of Eleanor’s Uncle Marcus Gress in Mandan, ND, and the help of the Catholic Church, Eleanor, her husband Ted, and their young son John embarked on a journey to the United States, destined for Mandan ND. Eleanor was reunited with her family in early 1952 when her parents and 5 siblings-Peter, Katherine, Helen, Adolph and Eugenia (Ida) arrived in the United States, and they too settled in Mandan. 

Eleanor was very proud to work in the food and beverage industry in the Bismarck/Mandan area well into her 80’s. She made many lifelong friendships working at the Havana Club, Jerry’s Supper Club, the Bismarck Elks, the Mandan Elks, the Mandan Eagles, and The Ridge in Mandan to name a few. 

Eleanor met Gerald (Jerry) McCloskey while working together at Jerry’s Supper Club in the early 1960’s, and they married in 1965. Eleanor was so very proud to have lived her life in Mandan. 

Eleanor is survived by her daughter Jeri Lynn (McCloskey) Leingang and Grandson Dustin Leingang of Windsor, CO, daughter-in-law Sharon Horott, Laramie, WY, brother Peter Gress of Arizona, sisters Helen Hittle, Billings, MT and Ida (Ray) Ressler, Mandan, ND. Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, sister Katherine Brooks and brothers John Gress and Adolph Gress, and her son John Horott. 

A celebration of Eleanor’s life will be held at a later date.