ROSS, Gratus M. 1905-1986

ROSS, SIEVERS, FINKE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/6/2013 at 14:19:19

Services For Gratus Ross Held Friday

Funeral services for Gratus M. Ross were held on Friday, November 14, at 1:30 p.m. at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, northeast of Wellsburg. Pastor Richard Dowling officiated.

Eldon Harms, soloist, sang two selections. A selection from the Lutheran Book of Worship was sung by the congregation. Mrs. Frank Meyeraan, Jr., was organist and accompanist.

Mrs. Leland Luwe and Mrs. Herman Koch were flower attendants.

Casketbearers were Donald Ross, Dores Ross, Donald Huisman, Ray Tessau, Eugene Harringa, and Keith Koenen. The interment service was held in the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.

Gratus M. Ross passed away at 10 p.m. Tuesday, November 11, at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center due to congestive heart failure. He had been a patient at the hospital since October 24th. He reached the age of 81 years, seven months, and six days.

He was born on a farm northeast of Wellsburg, on April 5, 1905, the son of Martin A. and Dora (Sievers) Ross and received his education in the rural school in the area.

On March 6, 1929, he was married to Lena Finke at the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Wellsburg by the Rev. C. Heinrich. Following their marriage they lived on a farm northwest of Wellsburg for two years and then moved to Wellsburg where they continued to make their home. They were married for over 55 years. Mrs. Ross passed away on November 15, 1984.

Gratus was a long-time member of the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Wellsburg having become a member in 1936.

He worked for John W. Ross for a short time and later became a Road Maintenance man for Grundy County, retiring in 1967.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Lena; an infant son, Melvin Kenneth Ross, who passed away on November 27, 1930; four brothers and one sister, William, Joe, Albert, Sam, Mrs. Jerr (Nettie) Huisman; and two brothers in infancy.

Those left to mourn his passing are: one brother, Martin M. Ross of Wellsburg; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Albert (Jennie) Ross of Wellsburg and Mrs. Joe (Marie) Ross of Grundy Center; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Doyen Funeral Home was in charge of funeral arrangements.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 20 November 1986, pg 12