Richard Gross

GROSS, HORNEY, GRAHAM, WRIGHT, TINDLE, RECOY, RIVERA

Posted By: RuthMcDowell (email)
Date: 11/29/2012 at 13:48:37

Powers Funeral Home Webpage

Richard "Dick" Gross, 78, of Mount Ayr, formerly of Creston, died Feb. 22, 2010 at the Kavanagh House in Des Moines. Services will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 26, 2010 at the Powers Funeral Home junction of highway 34 & 25 in Creston. Pastor Jim Gubser will officiate the service. Burial will be at a later date at Graceland Cemetery in Creston. Open visitation will be Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a 6 p.m. Masonic Service. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Clearfield Congregate Meal Site. Online condolences may be given under the obituary category at www.powersfh.com.

Richard "Dick" Douglas Gross, son of Lester Okey Gross and Opal Mae (Horney) Gross was born July 3, 1931 in Arispe. He lived in Arispe and went to Arispe School for many years before his family moved to Creston. In 1949, Richard graduated from Creston High School. On September 10, 1949 Richard was united in marriage to Betty Jean (Graham), who he had met in December of 1946. Last year they celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary.

Richard and Betty lived in Creston for 64 years. During his life Richard worked several jobs. These jobs included driving a dump truck, driver's license examiner, Creston Police Officer, Deputy and then became Sheriff for many years. In 1973 he was hired on the Burlington Northern Railroad as a brakeman/conductor and worked until 1985 when he was injured. Several years later Richard and Betty bought an acreage near Goose Pond Corner and affectionately nicknamed it "Windview" because of the steady breeze and nice view. They loved it there with their dog, named Buddy and their cats. They enjoyed doing his lawn mowing and yard work. The family would celebrate his birthday on July 4th and Christmas with his family and friends for many years. He also wrote a weekly article for a while called the Arispe Rambling about his family growing up in Arispe and it was published in the Afton paper to be enjoyed by all who grew up in the 30's and 40's. They later moved to an apartment in Mount Ayr before moving to Maple Ridge Assisted Living in Mount Ayr.

Richard was a long time member of the Masonic Lodge in Mt Ayr and has been a member of the United Transportation Union and also a member of NARVRE. He will be greatly missed by his family, acquaintances during the years of public service, his railroad buddies and his many other friends.

Richard is survived by his wife, Betty; three sons, Dennis (wife Lori) Gross of Creston, Michael (wife Glenda) Gross of Des Moines and Richard (wife Gina) Gross of Newman, Georgia; five grandchildren, Tony Gross (special friend Jenny) of Creston, Joey (wife April) Gross of Creston, Jennifer Wright (significant other Aaron) of Des Moines, Brian (wife Myra) Gross of Marquette, Iowa and Shaune (wife Tonya) Tindle of Creston; many great grandchildren; and his sister-inlaw: Mary Recoy of Oklahoma.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Arlyn and Lester (Joe); sister in-law, Maxine Gross; grandson, Nathan (wife Kim) Gross and Tony's Gross's wife Vicky Gross and also a niece Jane Rivera and his father and mother in-law: Harry and Wanda Graham and brother-inlaw: Doug and Velda Graham.