Donald Gross, 92
Donald Gross, 92 of rural Parker, S.D., died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024 under hospice care at his home. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23 at the Harmony Presbyterian Church in Hurley, S.D., with burial in the Hurley Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 5-7pm with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm.
Donald Earl Gross was born to Ruth (Fliginger) and Alfred Gross on Nov. 4, 1931 in Freeman, S.D. Don graduated from Hurley High School in 1949. After high school, Don served in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. In 2018, Don was selected for the Midwest Honor Flight in recognition of his service. His surviving children, Kevin and Kristy, were able to join him on the flight to Washington, D.C.
On March 4, 1960, Don was united in marriage to JoAnn Sherard in Hurley. Don and Jo have farmed near Parker for 58 years. During that time, the two owned the Parker Bake Shop for 13 years. Don also worked for the ASCS office in Parker for several years and served on the session of Harmony Presbyterian Church for 12 years. He was an active and influential member of the church and a deeply religious man.
Farming was Don’s passion. For the last several years he worked alongside James Davis farming. While working for the ASCS, he enjoyed visiting area farmers when out measuring grain bins and CRP land. Don was still climbing bins in his 80s and still hauling grain during the 2023 harvest. Retirement was never an option. He often said, “It’s not work when you’re having fun.”
But Don loved his family even more than farming.
Grateful for sharing their life with Don are his wife, Jo; son, Kevin and his wife, Barb; daughter, Kristy and her husband, Dennis Kautz; grandchildren, Nicole and Josh Anderson; Matt and Missy Gross; Amanda and Drew Swartz; and Justin and Mallory Kautz; and great grandchildren, Sadie, Reese and Mason Gross; Asher and Lincoln Anderson; and Chamberlyn, Levi and Boston Swartz.
Don had a very special bond with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all loved visiting the farm and riding on the tractors, the four-wheeler, the pickup or the lawn mower with Don. He played and laughed with the children for as long as his body was able.
Don was preceded in death by his son, Kelly; his parents; his brother, Darrol; his brothers-in-law, Jim and Jack Sherard; his sisters-in-law, Evelyn Sherard, Geraldine Lee Merritt and Viola Sherard; and his in-laws, Eula (Piper) and Clarence Sherard.
