Dean Gross

Dean E. Gross, 94, of Ord passed away on Saturday, April 24, 2021, at his home at Grandview Living Center in Ord.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ord. Pastor Glenda Pearson will officiate. Burial will be in the Ord City Cemetery.  Military Honors will be presented by the Ord VFW Post #7029 and American Legion Post #38. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Ord Memorial Chapel.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church or the Ord Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department.

Dean was born January 17, 1927, at Sweetwater, Nebraska to Ludvick L. and Agnes (Psota) Gross. He spent his childhood in Ravenna, Ord and Burwell where he received his education.

Dean enlisted in the United States Army during his last year of high school. He served in Germany in the Tank Division and was honorably discharged as a Sargent. Following the service, he returned home and that is when he met Lila Faye Kirby. The couple was united in marriage on March 28, 1951, at Burwell, Nebraska. To this union three children were born, Nancy, Alan and Karen. The family lived on various farms in Valley County before settling in the Ord area in 1960.

Dean worked for Ord Manufacturing Company then continued with other part-time jobs before beginning his career at the State of Nebraska Department of Roads. Along with all of Dean's jobs he continued to farm. He was a farmer at heart up to the end and was proud to help his son, Alan by driving a tractor three weeks ago.

Dean was a member of the VFW, Elks, Nebraska Cattleman's Association and Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a dedicated blood donor and donated over 185 unties to the Red Cross.

Dean had a passion for farming and enjoyed gardening.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Jerry Lagerstrom of Plattsmouth; a son, Alan Gross of Ord; two grandchildren; Suzanne and Mark Hansen of Omaha and Craig Lagerstrom of Plattsmouth; three great-grandchildren, Samantha, Addylin, Cayla Hansen; two sisters, Doris Dlugosh of Brier, WA and Clara Jones of Ord; a sister-in-law, Rita Gross of Pocatello, ID; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lila; a daughter, Karen Louise Gross; siblings, LaVern "Curly" Gross, Marie Sok, Louise Rassett, Mildred Jonas and Eugene "Shorty" Gross; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.