John Bross

Danville – John Richard Bross passed away at the age of 93 on November 24, 2025. Born August 2, 1932, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, he was the son of Ray Bross and Ruth Pealer Bross. He was a proud graduate of Danville High School and The Ohio State University, where he was a member of the Alpha Zeta fraternity and the Gamma Sigma Delta Agricultural Honorary.

John served honorably in the United States Air Force, with duty stations in Athens, Greece; Tripoli; Libya; and Diyarbakir, Turkey.

On August 25, 1962, John married Joan Schafer, beginning a devoted partnership that lasted 63 years.

A life-long farmer, John also dedicated 28 years to the Danville Board of Education. He was a member of the American Legion and, in retirement, enjoyed volunteering alongside Joan with the dedicated team at the Knox County Agricultural Museum and the Danville Sanctuary Hot Meals Program for twenty years.

John and Joan shared a love of travel, cherishing weeks at the Outer Banks of North Carolina with their children and grandchildren. Their adventures took them across the world—including three trips to Turkey (stemming from his fondness for the country from his Air Force days) as well as visits to China and Europe.

John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James Bross.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; their four children, Bradley (Valori) Bross of West Des Moines, IA, Susan (Ted) Hake of Canton, Brenda (George) Arnold of Danville, and Sarah (Donald) Moore of Powell; as well as ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A funeral service will take place at 1:00 p.m. Friday November 28 at the St. Luke Catholic Church, 307 N. Market St. Danville. Deacons Bob Gholoni and Tim Birie will officiate. Burial will follow in Wesley Chapel Cemetery with military rites by the Knox County Veterans Council Honor Guard. Friends and family may visit at the church from 10:00 until service time.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Danville Sanctuary Hot Meals Program, PO Box 505, Danville, OH, 43014, or to the Knox County Agricultural Museum, PO Box 171, Mount Vernon, OH, 43050.