John Paul Gross.... Age 63

Visitation: 6-8 pm Monday December 7, 2015 at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home

Service: 2 pm Tuesday December 8, 2015 at The Journey church, Paola, KS

Burial: Osawatomie Cemetery, Osawatomie, KS

Memorials: Miami County Cancer Foundation

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John Paul Gross age 63 of Osawatomie, Kansas died Thursday, December 3, 2015 at his home.

John was born September 20, 1952 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the oldest child and only son of five children born to Edward Carol and Jean (Rosenzweig) Gross.

He grew up in Omaha and Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln S. E. High School with the class of 1970. He then attended Milford Tech in Milford, Nebraska and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Civil Engineering.

On December 5, 1981 John married DeeAnn Jacobsen in Lincoln, Nebraska. They moved to Oklahoma for  four years before moving to Kansas in 1989. They became the parents of three children: Amy, Gregory and Laura.  They lived in Overland Park for nine years before moving his family to Osawatomie in 1998, where they have resided for the last seventeen years.

John worked as a civil engineer tech for Woodward Clyde Consultants and URS Corporation for several years.  After a career change in 2010, he went to work for the federal government inspecting levies for the Army Corp of Engineers.  He then retired in June of 2015 due to his health.

John loved people and never met a stranger.  He would talk to anyone who would listen and listen to anyone who needed him.  Walking at the local gym, coffee shop fellowship, and fishing were some of his favorite things to do after retiring.  Family trips to Colorado, specifically Estes Park where the family cabin was, filled his soul whenever he was able to visit.  John loved hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park, driving around looking at the beautiful scenery, and porch sitting at the cabin.  He enjoyed watching sports on TV, beating everyone at Cribbage, playing cards, Sudoku, and doing puzzles.

John was passionate about his faith and lived his life like Jesus is real.  He knew serving was important to the Body of Christ so he faithfully worked with the children on Wednesday nights, he was the Awana Commander for several years, the Pinewood Derby Grand-Prix Coordinator, and served in the children's ministry on Sunday mornings.  John also mentored many men in their walk with Christ and cheered on all those around him with love and support.

He was devoted husband, a wonderful father, and loving grandfather.  His grandchildren knew him as Beepa and were his pride and joy. John was a fun, kind, and loving person with an infectious laugh, who  made a positive difference in many people’s lives. Whether it was through church, work, family or just being a friend, he will be missed greatly by all who knew him.

John was preceded in death by his father in 1997.

Survivors include his wife of thirty-four years DeeAnn, three children: Amy Marick of Overland Park, KS, Gregory (Anna) Gross of Osawatomie, KS, and Laura (Deric) Moore of Paola, KS. Mother Jean Gross, Four sisters: Carol (John) Chen, Sue Gross, Julie (Andy) Speedlin and Amy Carpenter, and five grandchildren: Korbin Arthur Crockett, Gabriel John Moore, Tryg Joshua Moore, Gerzi Savana Bird, and Layton Russell Moore along with many other family and numerous friends.