Paul Gross

Paul Raymond Gross, 102, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at the Renaissance Assisted Living, 1500 Pepper Ave., Wisconsin Rapids.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, at Ritchay Funeral Home which will include Paul's favorite thin-crust pizzas, popcorn and beverages. A Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church. A private burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Paul Is survived by two daughters, Kathlene King of Sarasota, FL, and Melissa (David) De Lyser of Portland, OR; five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Paul was born Sept. 10, 1923, in Wisconsin Rapids to Theresa (Slattery) and Chester Gross. He was predeceased by his parents; one sister, Charlotte Parker; two brothers, William and Robert; his first wife, Patricia (Yountz); his second wife, Janet (Konash); and his third wife, Jane (Camps).
Paul started working in 1938 at age 13 when he began showing his home movies in a theater he built in the cellar of his family's home. He promoted his shows by pulling a wagon with advertisements on it around town. On nights when all 20 folding chairs in the "theater" were full, his take was $1.25.
Paul was a projectionist at the Palace Theater, the Wisconsin Theater and the Rapids Theater at various times throughout his life. He managed to serve as chief projectionist for eight theaters at Drew Field Air Force Base during his service in World War II (1943-1946). It was during one of those movies on base where he had the privilege of announcing to those present that the war had ended.
Paul was a jeweler and watchmaker, licensed by the State of Wisconsin Watchmakers Board in 1951. In 1955, he leased the jewelry department at Johnson Hills. He did watch and jewelry repair for jewelry stores throughout Wisconsin, and eventually ran the jewelry department at Daly Drug & Jewelry for almost 20 years. He purchased the Daly Jewelry Division in 1978 and established Paul Gross Jewelers at 241 Oak St. He eventually sold the store to Robin Koeshall and retired in 1992 at the age of 69. He continued to fix watches at the store for several more years.
Paul made a side career out of movie making for most of his life, calling his operation "Gross Telelloid Productions." In the late 1960s-1970s, area high school basketball and football coaches hired Paul to develop 16mm films of their games. He also did freelance movies, and eventually videos, for local television stations and ran a one-man television advertising production company on a very part-time basis.
In 1976, he produced "The Land Surveyor and You" for the Wisconsin Society of Land Surveyors and went on to make versions for Iowa and Minnesota land surveyor associations. He did a remake of the Wisconsin version in 2002 and a version for Jefferson County in 2005, at the age of 82.
Between 1965 and 2016, Paul produced a 30-film series "A History of Central Wisconsin," originally funded by what was then First National Bank. Paul made his final movie, "The History of Wisconsin Rapids: The Last Page" in 2016 at age 93. At that time, his hearing and vision had deteriorated to a point where it was not possible for him to continue.
In 1982, Paul spearheaded a fund-raising campaign to restore the clock once located in the old city hall at First and Baker streets. He chaired the mayoral committee and conducted several fundraisers, raising $150,000 in private funds to build the clock tower.
Paul was a member of the Noon Rotary Club for 32 years. He served as a member of the Board of Directors, was president from 1995-96 and was a recipient of the club's Paul Harris Award. He also served on the South Wood County Historical Corporation Board of Directors from 1990-1996.
In 1998, Paul was named Citizen of the year by the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be dedicated to SS Peter and Paul Church, the South Wood County Historical Corporation or the McMillan Memorial Library.
Thanks for listening.