ROSS, Claus W. 1890-1971

ROSS, ROALFS, GEERDES

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/29/2012 at 16:50:15

Last Rites Friday For Claus Ross

Claus W. Ross passed away around 5 o'clock Tuesday morning, March 30, 1971 at his home in Wellsburg following a heart attack. He reached the age of 80 years, 4 months and 9 days.

Funeral services were held on Friday afternoon, April 2 at 1:00 p.m. at the Doyen Funeral Home and at 1:30 p.m. at the Second Christian Reformed Church. Rev. John H. Elenbaas was officiating clergyman. Two selections were sung by a men's quartet, Henry Kannegieter, Thomas Claassen, Roger Nederhoff and Willis Nederhoff accompanied by Mrs. Ray Toomsen, pianist. Mrs. Wilbur Knock was organist. Flower attendants were Miss Lydia Spieker and Mrs. Jack Deters. Pallbearers were Donald Purvis, Albert Huisman, Kenneth Ross, Willard Ross, William P. Riekena and Richard Ross. Interment was held in the Shiloh Cemetery. Military rites were conducted at the graveside by local veteran's posts.

Claus was born on a farm in Shiloh Township, northwest of Wellsburg, on November 21, 1890, the son of William A. and Geska (Roalfs) Ross. He attended the rural school in the area. He later attended and graduated from Highland Park College in Des Moines. He was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Geerdes on August 26, 1948, at Eldora. They have lived all of their married life in Wellsburg.

He served his country in World War I and World War II. He was a charter member of the Ashing-Jaspers Post No. 213 of the American Legion in Wellsburg, and the Grundy County Barracks No. 1418 of World War I Veterans. He served as State Representative of Grundy county in Des Moines in 1937 and 1939. He was a past Commander of the Third District of the World War I Veterans' organization, the Mayor of the Town of Wellsburg for 10 years and was also an original member of the Board of Commissioners of the Grundy County Memorial Hospital and would have relinquished his post as of April 1, 1971.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Albert, Rieke and Henry Ross; one sister (Grietje), Mrs. Peter B. Riekena and a brother and sister in infancy.

Those left to mourn his passing are his wife, Bessie, one sister (Tatjie) Mrs. Dick Huisman, Sr. of Wellsburg; two brothers, Will W. Ross of Wellsburg, John W. Ross of Wellsburg and a host of other relatives and friends.

--The Grundy Register/Wellsburg Herald (Grundy Center, Iowa), 8 April 1971, section 2, pg 1