This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zk.2ADI/2197.1.1 Message Board Post: Funeral Card: Thomas J. Gross Thomas Joseph Gross, the son of Norbert and Dolores (Schnuettgen) Gross, was born on February 4, 1940, in Buck Grove, Iowa. He was baptized at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Buck Grove. Tom was confirmed at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance and attended St. Paul's Catholic School graduating with the class of 1958. After high school graduation, he worked for Farm Best Pork Plant in Denison. He then joined the Iowa National Guard and served his country until his honorable discharge in November of 1978. He also farmed with his brother Jim for over 30 years. During that time, Tom also operated Gross Trucking. He worked construction and drove a truck until his retirement in 2005 . . . living in Harlan with his mother. Tom was a member of the Knight's of Columbus in Denison and later became a 4th Degree member of the Luke E. Hart General Assembly of Defiance and its Chalice Club. He was also a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Defiance and the American Legion Post No. 707 of Defiance and Westphalia, Iowa, where he served proudly in the firing line for the honor guard for countless military rites. He enjoyed tractor pulling, restoring antique engines and, of course, his "Buggy." He especially enjoyed preparing barbeque for his friends and family as well as playing cards. Thomas died on Tuesday, April 11, 2006, at home in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of sixty-six years, two months and seven days. He was preceded in death by his father, Norbert and his brother, Samuel. Survivors include his mother, Dolores Gross of Harlan, Iowa; his brothers and sisters: James Gross and his wife, Norma of Manilla, Iowa; Marcelleen and her husband, Fred Youngman of Dale, Texas; Mary Jane Brody of Omaha, Nebraska; Randall Gross and his wife, Virginia of Harvard, Illinois; Virginia and her husband, Paul Kruse of Harlan, Iowa; Lorie and her husband, Scott Bandow of Manilla, Iowa; twenty-three nieces and nephews, numerous great nieces and nephews, as well as other relatives and many friends. In Loving Memory of THOMAS J. GROSS Born - February 4, 1940 - Buck Grove, Iowa Died - April 11, 2006 - Harlan, Iowa WAKE SERVICE Sunday, April 16, 2006- 7:00 P.M. Pauley Jones Funeral Home - Harlan, Iowa Rosary Monday, April 17, 2006- 10:00 A.M. St. Peter's Catholic Church - Defiance, Iowa MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL Monday, April 17, 2006 - 11:00A.M. St. Peter's Catholic Church - Defiance, Iowa CELEBRANT CONCELEBRANT Rev. Michael Berner Rev. Robert Hoefler ACCOMPANIST Judy Rewerts VOCALISTS Jason Kruse Tony Kruse Michael Kruse HONORARY CASKET BEARERS Leo Sonderman Alvin Kimmen Jim Goeser Bob Kloewer Joseph Lehan Ronald Nollen Dean Bissen Cal Petersen Roger Heller Dan Miller Junior Carter Jim Freund CASKET BEARERS Rick Gross Doug Gross Steve Gross Bruce Gross Paul Youngman Zack Bandow Ethan Bandow David Youngman Teresa Walton Steven Youngman Tammy Neddermeyer Christy Gross John Brody Shawn Brody Stefanie Gross Cameron Gross Tanya Raske Jason Kruse Jaime Anderson Tony Kruse Michael Kruse Angela Bandow Tiffany Bandow MILITARY Rites American Legion Post No. 707 of Defiance and Westphalia, Iowa Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery - Defiance, Iowa An invitation is extended to the relatives and friends to meet with the family in St. Peter's Parish Hall at the close of the committal service.