Gerald L. Gross, Sr.

1937 - 2019

            On October 30, 1954, Gerald L. Gross and Barbara E. Schoch were married. On this day in 2019, they were reunited in God’s Plan. At 82, after four months battling what appeared to be a moving health target he passed in Naples Florida, his home of over 30 years, of a heart attack.

            Born in Perkasie, PA, he was the son of the late Howard and Helen (Heldreth) Gross.

            In his youth, Jerry was something of a Jack-of-all-trades, a hairdresser, and a contractor involved with building anything from family homes, including his own, to warehouses to hospital refurbishment. After moving to Florida, he became a licensed CAM manager of various Condominiums from northern Naples to Marco Island and later became a furniture restoration specialist.

            Jerry was active within the Church, his own social circles, and personal interests. He attended Church every weekend, often welcoming other worshipers in, and where he especially enjoyed the music and would volunteer often for events.

            In his free time he enjoyed activities of all sorts. Jerry often went camping with his family, hunting with his son and friends, fishing and skiing both snow and water with his wife Barbara, and later sharing a love of greeting card crafting. He was fond of boating, kayaking, scuba diving, and days spent on the water. He spent years in the sky flying planes and gliders, and kept up his love of ham radio. He crafted custom furniture for his family and enjoyed all types of woodworking, a love he shared with his daughter. Truly a man who enjoyed working with his hands and creating something that could bring a smile to himself as well as others, Jerry had a zest for life that drove him to experience everything he could, never sitting still for long and always up to something.

            He is survived by two children, Kimberlee Schmadtke and her husband Chris, and Gerald Lee Gross, Sr. and his wife Phoebe; a granddaughter, Karissa Thomas; two brothers, Andy and Kenneth Gross, and two sisters, Doris Dickman and Roseanne Green.

            His wishes would not be that we mourn his death, but that we celebrate his life.

            His Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 8, 2019, at Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 733 Ridge Road, Sellersville, PA, where family and friends may call from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.  Interment will follow in the adjacent Jerusalem Union Cemetery, Sellersville.

            Arrangements are by the Bernard Suess Funeral Home, 606 Arch Street, Perkasie, PA.