Donald Gross

Memorial Services for Donald L. Gross, of Albert Lea, will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, June 30, at Grace Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. Interment will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Friends may visit with family one hour before services at the church. Don died June 23, 2011, at the age of 64, from melanoma metastasis to the brain. Donald Louis Gross was born April 12, 1947 in Carroll, IA to Edward and Rose (Schmitz) Gross. When Don was two, his family moved to a farm in Hayfield, MN. He graduated from HS in 1965, where he was a starter for the basketball team. He graduated from Augustana College in 1969 and received his masters degree in education in 1978 from Mankato State University. Don was united in marriage to Jeanne Holthe at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Pine Island on Oct. 22, 1971. They were blessed with two children, Sheila Calderon and David Gross, and two precious grandchildren, Axel and Aidric. Don retired in 2003 after 34 years of teaching 4th and 5th grades in the Albert Lea School District. Don began collecting toys in the 1970's and this hobby became his passion. He was the founder of the annual Tiger City Toy Show at the Northbridge Mall, and had just completed the 21st year this Feb. He also started the Plaza Farm Toys in the Skyline Plaza with partner Bob Fjelbroten and participated in other toy shows in the area. Don loved helping farmer Brad Bjerke with farming, which he enjoyed throughout his retirement. Don was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church where he was a past Church Council member and was currently serving on the Grace Foundation Board. He also was an active member of the Freeborn Co. Historical Museum. Don loved life and was always busy. He could fix almost anything and loved finding old toys, especially for his three and a half year old grandson, Axel. He was a great husband, father and grandfather. He touched many people and will be greatly missed, especially by his family. Survivors include his wife Jeanne, daughter Sheila (Bryan) Calderon and son David Gross, grandchildren Axel and Aidric Calderon, all of Albert Lea. Also brothers John (Pat) Gross of Medford, Bill (Sheree) Gross of Sioux Falls, mother-in-law Gladys Holthe of Zumbrota, brother- in-law Francis Langenfeld of Hastings, and sister- in- law Cynthia (Robert) Berge of Montevideo, nieces and nephews, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Carol Langenfeld and Gloria Jean Gross, nephew Bill Langenfeld and father-in-law Obert Holthe. Memorials are preferred to the Don Gross Scholarship Fund at Grace Lutheran Church.