John D Gross

Mr. John D. Gross, age 80, Clark, formerly of the Crocker community died on Monday evening, February 1, 2005 in a Clark care center. Funeral services will be Saturday, February 5, 2005 at 10AM in the Crocker Lutheran Church at Clark with Pastor Marion Grimes officiating. Burial will follow in the Our Saviors Lutheran West Cemetery near Lily. Music will be provided by Marvine Obermeier, Wendy Christman, David & Carol Finstad and Uncle Clifford's Bjerke's family. Visitation will be held on Friday from 4-6 PM with a public prayer service at 6PM in our chapel with Kenneth Bjerke leading services. Music will be presented by Dorothy Fuller, Roger Nordhus, Clinton Clark, Keith Harding and Jackie Fritz. There will be visitation at the Church in Crocker after 8:30 AM on Saturday morning. He was born north of Clark on September 28, 1924, the son of William J. and Tomina Palma (Holmes) Gross. He attended school in the NW Woodland country school. A major achievement for John was obtaining his G.E.D while working in Willmar, MN. Following his school in Woodland Township, north of Clark, he helped on the family farm and also worked for various farmers in the area. The family was known throughout the area for sheep shearing as well. He served his country during the Korean Conflict was discharged in August of 1951. On July 21, 1952 he was united in married to Doris Dorey Bjerke in the American Lutheran Church at Webster. They lived on the Audus farm south of Crocker for ten years. All seven of their children were born in South Dakota. Horses played a big part in Johns early life, if he wanted to go anywhere, he usually rode his one man horse named Star (who he is pictured on riding on the front of this memorial folder) On October 5, 1962 they moved to Maple Plain, MN where he worked in Minneapolis for the Star and Tribune. In 1967 they moved to Atwater, MN where he worked for the Buer Dairy Farm until moving to Litchfield, MN in 1972 where he went to work for Palm Industries making tractor cabs. June of 1973 is when they moved to Willmar, MN and John began work at the W.R.T.C (Willmar Regional Treatment Center) as a custodian. On February 19, 1988 he had to a medical retirement due to the progression of his Parkinsons disease. In 1996 the couple moved to Osseo, MN where in 1997 he entered the Crystal Lake Good Samaritan Home at Robbinsdale, MN. Then in March of 2000, they moved to Clark and he became a resident of the Beverly Healthcare Center. He was a baptized and confirmed member of the Crocker Lutheran Church and a member of the Clark American Legion. His garden was his hobby, He spent countless hours gardening, canning, cooking and baking, a hobby which left him in 1992 after suffering a stroke. Until a few years ago, he wasMr. Fix It, know for mending anything from household appliances to machinery, and see to those cars should operate, as they should. He had a dream also someday to play the violin, but by the time he acquired a violin, his Parkinsons disease had progressed to a point that he could no longer accomplish this feat. Johns pride and joy were his children and grandchildren. All of his family and friends were very special to him and he truly enjoyed visiting with everyone. He was a wonderful husband, an excellent father, a terrific grandfather and a super great-grandfather. Survivors who are grateful for having shared in his life is his wife Dorey of Clark, three sons, David Gross and wife Barbara and Dan Gross and wife Montana all of Peyton, CO and Doug Gross and Laurie of Howard Lake, MN, four daughters, Cindy Swanson and husband Paul of Maple Grove, MN, Sheryl Downes and husband Rick of Atwater, MN, Kathy Eisenbacher and husband Steve of Spicer, MN and Nancy Gebhardt and husband Laine of Osseo, MN; 13 grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, 6 step-great grandchildren; three brothers, Art Gross and wife Joyce of Crocker, Ray Gross and wife Lillian of Clark and Gordie Gross and wife Marcella of Doland; sister-in-laws, Laura Gross of Clark and Wilma Gross of Milbank and Doreys family, Kenny Bjerke and wife Nelda of Paynesville, MN, Dunk Bjerke and wife Elva of Watertown, Jim Bjerke and wife Sharon of Clark, John Johnson of Chaska, MN, Roxy Streckfuss and husband Dale of Mansfield, SD and Becky Schaefbauer and husband Bill of Herried, SD and many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his parents, his mother-in-law & father-in-law, a grandson, Mathew Downes, brothers, Carl, Tom and his wife Ruby, Bud, Elmer and Henry in infancy, a sister, Adeline Loterbauer, sister-in-law Faye Johnson and a brother-in-law Little Joey. email condolence to the family at the funeral home web site. www.furnessfuneralhome.com