Raymond L. Gross

Raymond Gross, 82, of Beal City, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility with his family at his side. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 17, at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Beal City with Father Patrick Jankowiak presiding. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the gathering room of the church on Friday from 1-4 and 6-8 p.m. with the Vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation continues on Saturday one hour prior to the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph the Worker School. Envelopes are available at the church or at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home. Raymond was born April 11, 1929, in Beal City, son of the late Leo and Coletta (Reamer) Gross. A graduate of St. Philomena High School in 1947, Raymond married Theresa Vogel on April 11, 1953 at St. Philomena Church in Beal City. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served from 1951-1953, stationed in Korea, during the Korean War. He was a lifelong dairy farmer, member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish and member of the Beal City Knights of Columbus Council 3651. He loved his family and his farm. Raymond is survived by his wife of 58 years, Theresa; 14 children, Ann (Stan) Pasch of Lake Leelanau, Sue (Dan) Boss of Suttons Bay and Ken (Lauralyn) Gross, Gary Gross, Bob Gross, Jane (Dennis) Bechtel, Julie (Rich) Faber, John Gross, Donna (Brock) Horsley, Laurie (Brian) Schafer, Dan Gross, Dave (Lori) Gross, Pat (Heather) Gross and Mark (Krista) Gross, all of Beal City; 34 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Carol (Richard) Wood of Beal City; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by four siblings, Rita Dickson, Bernard Gross, Edward Gross and Mary McCabe.