Marcus F. Gross
June 2, 1916 — November 14, 2011
Marcus Frank Gross, Sr. was born on June 2, 1916 to Joseph and Mary (Engel) Gross in Earling, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. He attended grade school and high school at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Earling.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He served during World War II and in 1945, was honorably discharged from military service.
Marcus attended a dance in Defiance and saw Naomi Schmitz for the first time wearing a beautiful red sweater. He later moved to California, but wrote to her often and proposed in a letter. A ring followed in the mail. They were married on September 10, 1947 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa. Ten children were born to this union: Patrick, Sharon, Donald, Douglas, Terry, Bill, Gene, Nancy, Marcus Jr., and Jack.
While living in Omaha, Marcus went to mechanic school. In1951, they moved to Defiance where he owned and operated Gross Auto Service. In 1954, the family moved to a farm near Earling until 1960, when they moved back to Defiance and continued his mechanic career until his retirement in 1982.
Marcus was a member of: the American Legion Post No. 707, Knights of Columbus, St. Peter’s Parish Council, the Defiance City Council, and he was a charter member of the Shelby County Economic Council.
He was a hard worker and had a great sense of humor. He had a great love of music and was always wanting to learn.
Marcus died on Monday, November 14, 2011 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-five years, five months, and twelve days. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Donald, and all of his eleven brothers and sisters: Anna, Mike, Clara, Andrew, Leonard, Werner, Norbert, Emil, Alban, Gertrude, and Charles.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years Naomi (Schmitz) Gross of Harlan, Iowa; children: Patrick Gross and his wife Maggie of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sharon and her husband Henri Duyzend of Seattle, Washington, Douglas Gross and his wife Eileen of Des Moines, Iowa, Terry Gross and his wife Luanne of Lakewood, Colorado, Bill Gross and his wife Kris of Indianola, Iowa, Gene Gross of Harlan, Nancy and her husband Roger Karnofski of Longview, Washington, Marcus Gross, Jr. and his wife Kris of Harlan, and Jack Gross and his wife Lourdes of Council Bluffs, Iowa; twenty-one-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. John Rosman accompanied vocalists Jason Kruse and Michael Kruse. The grandchildren were honorary casket bearers. Serving as casket bearers were his sons: Doug Gross, Marcus Gross, Jr., Gene Gross, Bill Gross, Terry Gross, and Jack Gross. Military rites were performed by the American Legion Post No. 707 at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Defiance, Iowa
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He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He served during World War II and in 1945, was honorably discharged from military service.
Marcus attended a dance in Defiance and saw Naomi Schmitz for the first time wearing a beautiful red sweater. He later moved to California, but wrote to her often and proposed in a letter. A ring followed in the mail. They were married on September 10, 1947 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia, Iowa. Ten children were born to this union: Patrick, Sharon, Donald, Douglas, Terry, Bill, Gene, Nancy, Marcus Jr., and Jack.
While living in Omaha, Marcus went to mechanic school. In1951, they moved to Defiance where he owned and operated Gross Auto Service. In 1954, the family moved to a farm near Earling until 1960, when they moved back to Defiance and continued his mechanic career until his retirement in 1982.
Marcus was a member of: the American Legion Post No. 707, Knights of Columbus, St. Peter’s Parish Council, the Defiance City Council, and he was a charter member of the Shelby County Economic Council.
He was a hard worker and had a great sense of humor. He had a great love of music and was always wanting to learn.
Marcus died on Monday, November 14, 2011 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of ninety-five years, five months, and twelve days. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Donald, and all of his eleven brothers and sisters: Anna, Mike, Clara, Andrew, Leonard, Werner, Norbert, Emil, Alban, Gertrude, and Charles.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-four years Naomi (Schmitz) Gross of Harlan, Iowa; children: Patrick Gross and his wife Maggie of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Sharon and her husband Henri Duyzend of Seattle, Washington, Douglas Gross and his wife Eileen of Des Moines, Iowa, Terry Gross and his wife Luanne of Lakewood, Colorado, Bill Gross and his wife Kris of Indianola, Iowa, Gene Gross of Harlan, Nancy and her husband Roger Karnofski of Longview, Washington, Marcus Gross, Jr. and his wife Kris of Harlan, and Jack Gross and his wife Lourdes of Council Bluffs, Iowa; twenty-one-grandchildren; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. John Rosman accompanied vocalists Jason Kruse and Michael Kruse. The grandchildren were honorary casket bearers. Serving as casket bearers were his sons: Doug Gross, Marcus Gross, Jr., Gene Gross, Bill Gross, Terry Gross, and Jack Gross. Military rites were performed by the American Legion Post No. 707 at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Defiance, Iowa
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