Greg, son of Frederick J. (1924-1999) and Grace Lee (Connell) Gross, was born 7 February 1951 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan. Greg's father was a World War II veteran. Greg served in the US Marine Reserves. Greg succumbed to cancer 7 January 1994 and was interred at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Clinton County, Michigan.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Monday 10 January 1994
GROSS, GREGORY L.
OKEMOS
Beloved son, brother and father, died at home on January 7, 1994, at the age of 42, after a 6 month battle with cancer. He was born February 7, 1951. Survivors included loving parents, Frederick and Grace Gross; 1 son, Jonathon Gross, age 22, of Oklahoma; and 2 daughters, Crystal, age 7 and Courtney, age 4, of Detroit. All of whom he loved very much. He is also survived by 1 sister, Randi Austin (C. Danford), and 2 nieces, Ashley and Nicole, with whom he had a very special relationship. Greg graduated from Okemos High School, where he competed on the debate, baseball and cross-country teams. He returned to M.S.U. in 1991 to complete a degree program in golf course management and graduated with distinction, serving as the commencement program speaker. At the time he became critically ill, he was employed as a golf course superintendent in southwestern Michigan. Greg was a member of the Golf Course Superintendent's Association of America and was certified by the Michigan Department of Agriculture as a commercial pesticide applicator. Prior to reaching his dream career of golf course management, he was a successful sales rep and manager of Executone and AT&T for more than 15 years. He also served in the U.S. Marine Reserves from 1971-1972. Among Greg's other interests which he actively pursued were photography and music. Greg will be remembered for his spirit of adventure, his tremendous courage and acceptance during this sudden illness, his wonderful sense of humor, the gift of his time and energy to friends and family. Perhaps above all, he will be a model for his children that a person can continue to achieve new goals at any time in life. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 11, 11:30 a.m. at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. Lansing Chapel with the Pastor Darrell A. Neves, Faith Lutheran Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
Randy Axline (1967)
Greg was a good friend of mine. We had a lot of laughs in many classes. I am so sorry that he is gone. He remains in my memory as one ot the most memorable people I knew in high school. His sense of humor was amazing! God bless and God speed!