Cross, Robert Merrill Private Mass of Christian Burial for Robert Merrill Cross, 95, will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Taylors Falls, MN. Born March 6, 1925 in Kenosha, WI, was the second child of Merrill and Dagmar Cross. A veteran of WWII, Robert was a graduate of Kalamazoo College and the Andover Newton Theological School. He was first ordained a Baptist Minister, later was accepted into Presbyterian ministry, and finally converted to Roman Catholicism. He was very active in the Twin Cities in the counseling of those struggling with alcoholism and drug dependency. Robert died on Friday, October 23rd, surrounded by loving family. His six months on hospice were a shining example of allowing the end of life to be "natural." He was assisted to heaven by daily prayer (morning and evening prayer as a Permanent Deacon for 44 years), frequent sacraments, the love of his huge family of 130, and the hospice care he received. In addition to Nancy, his wife of 70 years, he was preceded in death by his sister Norma Remus, brother, James R. Cross, daughter Mary (Gerald) Kieckhoefer, infant son Lincoln, and by Dale and Joann Dorn, the parents of four of his children. He is survived by daughters: Barbara (Patrick) Verly, Marshall, MN; Martha (Steven) Jacobson, Dresser, WI; Paula (William) Tomlinson, New Hope, MN; Cheryl Odland (Kevin Shantz), Minneapolis, MN; and Carol Cross, Dresser WI. And by sons: Philip Cross, Lindstrom, MN; James (Elaine) Cross, Glencoe, MN; Daniel (Angela) Cross, St. Paul, MN; Alan (Cheryl) Cross, Apple Valley, MN; and Bruce (Julie) Cross, Minneapolis, MN; and, by thirty-four grandchildren and fifty-eight great-grandchildren, five nieces, and five nephews. Memorials to Prairie Home Hospice, Marshall, MN, 56258. grandstrandfh.com

Published on October 27, 2020