Ema Gross

1988 - 2024

Ema Gross

April 2, 1988 - January 11, 2024

Leawood, Kansas - Ema Gross, beloved daughter of Edmund and Michiko Gross passed away suddenly on January 11, 2024. She was born in Okayama, Japan, in 1988. She was a beautiful child who first came to America when she was six weeks old. She was a gifted pianist whose talents were first noticed by her pre-school's piano teacher when Ema was four years old. Ema went on to win several piano competitions and also took up the violin so that she could play in her school orchestra. She attended the Summer Arts Camp at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Traverse City, Michigan, during the summer of her 11th year. Ema also attended the Kansas City Japanese School (where her mother taught Japanese) on Saturdays for many years until she graduated. She was conversational in Japanese. Edmund always enjoyed listening to conversations between Michiko and Ema where Michiko would speak to Ema in Japanese and Ema would respond in English. Edmund, Michiko, and Ema often traveled together on trips to Europe and many times to Japan and California. Ema was an animal lover who parented several rescue dogs including two black labs and an Australian cattle dog. Ema was a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan even providing a text message play by play from Kansas City for one game for her parents when they were traveling abroad. Instead of flowers, the family suggests a donation to The Great Plains SPCA (greatplainsspca.org) in Ema's honor. Edmund and Michiko will be holding a memorial reception in Ema's honor at their home on Sunday, January 28, 2024, from 2 to 5 pm. Please call 913-648-7672 for further details.