William P. "Bill" Gross

1930 - 2021

William P. "Bill" Gross, 90, of Quincy, IL, passed away at 9:27 am Thursday, January 21, 2021 at Blessing Hospital in Quincy.

A Funeral Ceremony will be at 10:00 am Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at Madison Park Christian Church in Quincy. Pastor Larry Smith and Pastor Chuck Sackett will officiate. A private burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery in Quincy.

Friends and Family are invited to Bill's Life Celebration at a visitation that will be Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the O'Donnell-Cookson Life Celebration Home in Quincy.

Illinois COVID-19 guidelines will be followed, including requiring face masks, social distancing, and allowing no more than 50 guests in at a time.

Bill was born August 28, 1930, in Danville, IL to Howard W. and Deloris (Cooper) Gross.

He married Doreen Oglesby on July 2, 1949, in Gibson City, IL. She survives.

In addition to his wife, survivors include three children, Doug Goss (Patti) of Richmond, VA, Dianne McNett of St. Charles, MO, and Janalyn Spoerl (Scott) of Tarpon Springs, FL; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Arleen Gross; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ray and Ruth Oglesby.

Bill was an excellent football player throughout high school. He went on to attend Illinois Wesleyan College, where he became the starting halfback/fullback and place kicker all four years, leaving his college career as their all-time leading kicker.

Following college, Bill began his coaching career in Adrian, MI and eventually returned back to his hometown of Gibson City to become the head football and track coach there, where he had much success.

At the conclusion of the 1960 school year, he decided to return to his dream of playing football and signed on as the kicker for the London Ontario Lords. Bill later tried out for the Los Angeles Rams and the Green Bay Packers. After finishing his playing career and moving on to coach and teach in Elgin, IL, Bill was named the head football coach at Quincy High School from 1964-1976. His teams won conference titles and even made it to the state play-offs during his tenure as coach.

In 1979, Bill was appointed the athletic director of Quincy High, where he remained until his retirement in 1988. He was inducted into the Gibson City High Hall of Fame in 1990, the Illinois High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame just six months later in 1991, and the Quincy Blue Devil Hall of Fame in 1992. Bill's legendary career as an educator for 36 years and a coach for 26 years surely left an impact on each student and athlete he taught and coached throughout the years.

Bill was a fisherman from an early age and savored the times he was able to enjoy his hobby at Bennett Springs and the ocean. He loved playing card games like Bridge and Pinochle as well as golfing, and was even still golfing on his 90th birthday. Bill was a huge Chicago sports fan, from the Cubs to the Bears to the Bulls, but nothing beat his love for Quincy High School sports. His blood ran Blue Devil blue until the end, as he loved following Quincy High sports at Q-Stadium and Blue Devil Gymnasium even well into retirement. In addition to watching sports, he was likely watching westerns, game shows, or Lawrence Welk if the TV was on.

Bill enjoyed cruises and traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, and especially the Holy Land, but he enjoyed simple moments just as much; spending his summers at the Quincy Park Band concerts and spending time with his family and friends were a couple of Bill's favorite past times. He had a special way of bonding with his grandchildren by cooking and baking sweets and Christmas sugar cookies with them.

Bill lived a very full life and will be deeply missed by all those who were lucky enough to cross paths with him.

For most of his life, Bill's commitment and relationship to His Lord and how he would pass that legacy on to his family was of primary concern. Bill was a member of Madison Park Christian Church. He was an elder there for many years, taught Sunday School, and attended a men's Bible study every Saturday morning. Bill was an avid Bible reader and truly lived out his faith in his everyday life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Quincy Teen Reach or FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes).

Online condolences may be shared and a video tribute may be viewed at www.ODonnellCookson.com.