William Elton Ross

Born in Lamont, Iowa on August 5, 1918
Departed on May 25, 2008. Resided in Independence, IA.

Memorial

William Elton Ross, 89, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, May 25, 2008 at the Buchanan County Health Center, after a short illness. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. John Catholic Church, Independence by the Rev. Aloysius Vorwald. Burial: St. John Cemetery, Independence. Friends may visit with the family after 9 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel, Cedar Rapids is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include his daughter Barbara Tom Cowell of Fairbank; three stepchildren, Colleen Dennis Charkowski of Cedar Rapids, Elaine Bedell of Ridgedale , MO, and Allan Nancy Gremm of Iowa City; two sons-in-law, Jim Murphy of West Union and Dr. Daryl Kathy Chapman of Wilson, NC; and a daughter-in-law, Connie Ross of Strawberry Point; a brother, George Jeane Ross of St. Paul, MN; 14 grandchildren; and 18 great grandchildren.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, MaDonna; two daughters, Ila Murphy and Shirley Chapman; a son, Paul Ross; two grandchildren, Shane Ross and Heather Murphy; five sisters, Emily, Frances, Audrey, Eloise, and Jane; and a brother, Calvin.

Bill was born on August 5, 1918 in Lamont to William and Anna Bayliss Ross. He married Vera Fleming in 1941. They were later divorced. He married MaDonna Gremm on November 28, 1980. She died in 2005. Bill farmed in the Arlington area for many years and then moved to Oelwein and worked for Corn Blossom Meat Packing, retiring in 1983. Bill enjoyed reading westerns, fishing, and telling his stories to all who would listen. He was a generous man and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Memorials may be made to the family.

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