Martha Ann Gross

July 29, 1937 ~ October 6, 2022

RECORDED FUNERAL SERVICE

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VISITATION DETAILS

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

4:00 – 8:00 PM

St. Peter’s Catholic Church

Defiance, IA

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WAKE SERVICE DETAILS

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

7:00 PM

St. Peter’s Catholic Church

Defiance, IA

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MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL DETAILS

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

11:00 AM

St. Peter’s Catholic Church

Defiance, IA

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Burial will be in St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, Defiance, IA

SURVIVORS

1 Daughter – Deb (David) Stracke of Harlan, IA

4 Sons – Leonard (Darcy) Gross of Kirbyville, MO

Tony (Sandy) Gross of Manilla, IA

Paul (Joy) Gross of Manilla, IA

Dean (Jamie) Gross of Irwin, IA

4 Brothers – Eugene (Joan) Stoll of Stanberry, MO

Donald (Ruth Ann) Stoll of Stanberry, MO

Edward (Agnes) Stoll of Stanberry, MO

Gerald (Nancy) Stoll of Stanberry, MO

1 Sister-in-law, Carol Stoll of Stanberry, MO

15 Grandchildren – Steven Gross

Stephanie Whitt

Sarah Clark

Allison Leinen

Beth Coffelt

Jade Gross

Elaine Gross

Dylan Gross

Perry Gross

Samantha Griffieon

Mackenzi Johnson

Taylor Gross

Peyton Gross

Makayla Gross

Nathan Gross

8 Great-grandchildren

Other Relatives & Friends

Martha Ann Gross, the daughter of John Leo and Agnes Mary (Coppersmith) Stoll, was born on the family farm near Clyde, Missouri, on July 29, 1937, the tenth of 13 children. She received the sacraments of Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, and Matrimony at Immaculate Conception Basilica in Conception, Missouri. Martha attended Jefferson High School in Conception Jct., Missouri, where she played basketball and softball, and graduated with the Class of 1955.

On January 19, 1957, Martha married Gerald John Gross at Immaculate Conception Basilica in Conception, and the couple made their home north of Harlan, Iowa. Gerald first helped his father, and then he and Martha farmed south of Defiance, Iowa. They began farming their own land west of Irwin, Iowa, in 1966. Martha actively helped with farm work, kept a vegetable garden, canned and cooked for her family, and cared for their children. In 1997, Gerald and Martha moved into Irwin. Gerald died on February 27, 2015, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Martha was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. She enjoyed playing cards, and loved spending time with her grandchildren and watching their sports. Martha and Gerald liked to travel, and visiting her Missouri family and friends was special to her.

Martha A. Gross died on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa. She had reached the age of age of 85 years, 2 months, and 7 days.

Martha was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gerald John Gross; four brothers, Leo Stoll, Lawrence Stoll, Vincent Stoll, and Alfred Stoll; and four sisters, Lucille Henggeler, Sr. Miriam Clare Stoll, Amelia Wiederholt, and Alice Redden. She is lovingly remembered by one daughter, Deb (David) Stracke of Harlan, Iowa; four sons, Leonard (Darcy) Gross of Kirbyville, Missouri, Tony (Sandy) Gross and Paul (Joy) Gross, all of Manilla, Iowa, and Dean (Jamie) Gross of Irwin, Iowa; four brothers, Eugene (Joan) Stoll, Donald (Ruth Ann) Stoll, Edward (Agnes) Stoll, and Gerald (Nancy) Stoll, all of Stanberry, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Carol Stoll of Stanberry, Missouri; 15 grandchildren, Steven Gross, Stephanie Whitt, Sarah Clark, Allison Leinen, Beth Coffelt, Jade Gross, Elaine Gross, Dylan Gross, Perry Gross, Samantha Griffieon, Mackenzi Johnson, Taylor Gross, Peyton Gross, Makayla Gross, and Nathan Gross; eight great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

A Wake Service was held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, and the Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa. Father Andrew Windschitl, Father Clement Owusu, and Father Urey Mark concelebrated. Casket bearers were Martha’s loving grandchildren. Burial was held in the St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery, Defiance. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home, Inc. in Harlan, Iowa, assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.burmeisterjohannsen.com.