Cover photo for David Lee Gross's Obituary
David Lee Gross Profile Photo
1939 David 2024

David Lee Gross

October 21, 1939 — June 2, 2024

David Lee Gross, 84, died Sunday, June 2, 2024, from complications due to the West Nile Virus.

Dave was born on October 21, 1939, in Denver, Colorado to Leland C. and Claire Y. Gross. He married Jean Claire Gallas on August 6, 1966. They have a daughter, Kirsten Anne (Eric) Heerdt of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and two grandchildren, Russell David (Jenifer) Heerdt, Aztec, New Mexico, and Elizabeth Claire Heerdt of Durango, Colorado.

There will be a visitation on Friday, June 7th from 3-6pm at Horan & McConaty, 1091 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80246.

A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at Saint Michael and All Angels’ Church – 1400 S. University Blvd, Denver, CO 80210    - on Saturday, June 8th at 11:00am with a reception following the service.

In his teenage years, Dave worked at the Denver Stockyards and City Floral Greenhouses. His time at City Floral lead to a long career in horticulture with the Ball Seed Company where he was a salesman and national sales manager eventually moving to St. Charles, Illinois. He and his family later returned to Denver and City Floral, becoming part owner with Ron Brady in 1978 until his retirement in 2007. He continued to use his horticulture knowledge and skills while maintaining the landscape at St. Michaels and as an avid garden railroad enthusiast.

In his retirement, Dave and Jean traveled extensively. Dave left an indelible mark on the steam railroading community with his efforts to record the last breath of steam at various locations across the globe. His love of railroading began at 15-years-old, when he grabbed a camera and headed out on his first railfanning trip with life-long friend Jim Ehernberger. His photography and videography will forever be a part of railroading history. As a founding partner in the High Country Railroad in Golden, Colorado, one of the first members of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, a member of The Lexington Group, a volunteer for Midwest Old Threshers Association in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and a first-generation steam preservationist, his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those who follow in his footsteps.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Michael and All Angels’ Church, The Center for Railroad Photography or Midwest Old Threshers.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, June 7, 2024

3:00 - 6:00 pm (Mountain (no DST) time)

Horan & McConaty Funeral Service and Cremation

1091 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80246

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Requiem Mass

Saturday, June 8, 2024

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Mountain (no DST) time)

Saint Michael and All Angels Church

1400 S University Blvd, Denver, CO 80210

Get Directions

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 1003

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors