David Gerard Gross

David Gerard Gross was born May 7th, 1960, to Alban and Lavina Gross in Manning, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Earling. Dave attended St. Joseph School until 8th grade and graduated from Harlan High School in 1978. After high school, Dave attended the University of Northern Iowa, where he double majored in chemistry and biology until his graduation in 1984.

On August 12, 1980, Dave married Jolene Schwery at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Panama. To this union, two sons were born: Taylor Joseph on January 17, 1990 and Tanner David on June 29, 1994. They made their home in Eagle Grove, where David worked as a chemist for Iowa Testing Labs for 12 years.

David moved to Des Moines and joined the team at Woodson Tenent Labs in 1996, which would later be known as Euro-Fins. During his 29 years there, Dave became the heart of the reporting team. Dave often referred to his co-workers as his “Des Moines family” and would call another co-worker, Elaine Johnson, his “Des Moines Mom”.

David loved the great outdoors, canoeing in the Upper Iowa, fishing (especially trout fishing) in northeast Iowa, pheasant hunting, and camping in Manteno with his sons and nephews.

Dave enjoyed the Iowa Hawkeyes. He followed football and basketball religiously. He also cheered on his beloved alma mater, the UNI Panthers. He enjoyed growing hot peppers and eating spicy foods. David enjoyed music, especially Pink Floyd, and all classic Rock and Roll.

David passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at Mercy One Hospital in Des Moines after a short bout with cancer, attaining the age of 65 years and 11 days. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alban and Lavina Gross, sister Mary Ann Lapke, brother Damian Gross, nephews Chad Erlbacher, Cal Leuschen, and Dan Filbey, and brothers-in-law Tom Leuschen and Bill Erlbacher.

He is survived by his sons, Taylor Gross of Fremont, Nebraska, and Tanner Gross of Omaha, Nebraska, siblings Joanie Erlbacher of Earling, Iowa, Kathy (Mike Laumann) Leuschen of Flower Mound, Texas, Duane (Liz Kearney) Gross of Omaha, Nebraska, Dean Gross of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Declan (Gayla) Gross of Earling, Iowa, Jeanne (Tom) Filbey of Papillion, Nebraska, brother-in-law Ed Lapke of Dunlap, Iowa, and former wife Jolene Brown of Omaha, many nieces, nephews, other family, and friends.