Bill Gross

2017

Adolph William Gross Jr.
12 Nov 1939 - 29 Jan 2026

Clubs & Associations

Quick Facts

veteran of the US Air Force
received Golden Dancer certificate and dangle from the California Council of Square Dancers, 2019

Obituary

William Gross
William A. Gross (Bill) passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, in Sacramento, California at the age of 86.

Bill was born on November 12, 1939, to Adolph and Gertrude (Schalk) Gross in Rogers City, MI. After graduating from Rogers City High School and attending two years of college, Bill entered and was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force after 4 years and was stationed at Thule Air Base, Greenland as a Radio Radar Equipment Repairman. Bill lived in San Francisco, California and worked for Pacific Bell as a System Services Technician for over 40 years. After retirement, Bill moved to Sacramento, California to enjoy his august years. During that period, Bill participated in square dancing, tai chi, learning to play ukulele and keyboard, cycling, attending the San Francisco Philharmonic, traveling back to his hometown of Rogers City, Michigan every summer for family and friends reunions, plus he loved to travel within the United States and abroad, and we cannot forget his green-thumb gardening skills.

Bill was an ambassador of the neighborhood corner garden where he had a plot and enjoyed growing tomatoes, leafy greens, snap peas and other delicious vegetables, plus his beautiful flower gardens. Bill also enjoyed nurturing his beautiful orchids and Christmas cacti. Bill was also an animal lover and adopted a stray cat he named Jake whom he would take for a walk around the block (although we didn't really know who was walking whom). Bill would also cat-sit for his neighbors who were out of town. Such was the kind, gentle nature of the man we loved and called Bill.

Bill is survived by his brother Thomas (Linda) Gross of Rogers City, Michigan and his sister Carol Gross Morgan (Stephen) of Tecumseh, Michigan. Bill sadly also leaves behind his beloved nephews Richard (Patricia) Gross of Los Angeles California; Steven T. Gross of Rogers City, Michigan; Chad (Tricia) Gross of DePere Wisconsin; Christopher (Megan) Morgan of Ypsilanti, Michigan and his beloved niece Jennifer (Emmanuel) Sievert of Allen Park Michigan.

There was never a time when talking with his siblings that Bill forgot to ask about his other family members, whether they were in high school, college, working, playing sports or just learning how to walk or crawl. He will be sadly missed by his great-nieces Madison and Stephanie and step-great nephews Brandon, Christopher and Anthony of Los Angeles, California; great-nephews Chase (Jena) Grulke of Rogers City, Michigan, Samuel Gross of Temple, Georgia and his great-niece Rachel (Robert) Ragsdale of Rockmart Georgia, and his great-nieces Ashlyn and Madysen Gross and great-nephew Logan Gross from DePere/Green Bay, Wisconsin and his great-nephew Jack of Ypsilanti Michigan. Lastly, precious great-great-nieces Rayna of Rogers City, Michigan and Parker of Rockmart, Georgia.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents Adolph and Gertrude (Schalk) Gross of Rogers City, Michigan, his brother Rodney and sister-in-law Dorothy (Dottie) Gross of Pacific Palisades, California and his sister Rhoda Gross Renaud and brother-in-law Raymond Renaud of New Port Richey, Florida, and his forever faithful and loving cat, Jake.

Bill also leaves behind many, many dear friends who joined him in his social, gardening, and traveling activities and to the countless individuals that have guided him along his journeys while living in San Francisco and Sacramento California. The list is long of those that loved and will dearly miss Bill, especially Emerson Bernardes and Sofia Santos of Sao Paulo Brazil and Portugal; Caesar Alexzander and Sohnjay Reeve of San Francisco, California; Fernando Berton, Martha Gildart, Gerald Hamm, James and Delphine Cathcart of Sacramento California; and Kurt Bauer and Hector Mota of San Diego, California.

Bill will be interned with military honors at the Sacramento National Valley Cemetery at 5810 Midway Road, Dixon, CA at 1:30 PM on March 2, 2026. A Celebration of Life will follow beginning at 3:30 pm at 1827 O Street, Sacramento, CA.

The Family of William A. Gross would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to all the medical staff at Sutter Medical Center of Sacramento California; W F Gormley & Sons Funeral Home of Sacramento California; Sacramento Valley National Cemetery of Dixon, California and to all those that took such care and guidance in fulfilling Bill's final wishes.

Rest In Peace dear sweet Bill. We love you and will miss you so much. Rejoice that you are in heaven, reuniting with your loved ones. Until we meet again, you will always be in our hearts and minds.^[1]