Margaret T. (Iten) Gross

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Gross, Margaret T. (Iten) Formerly of St. Cloud and Preston, born March 24, 1914, and died on February 27, 2009, at Emerald Crest in Victoria, Minnesota. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph. Margaret was the last surviving child of Lawrence and Elizabeth (Ahles) Iten of St. Cloud; her siblings included LaVene Akins, Dee Hillard, Art, Walter, Lawrence "Zook", Ellen, Herbert, Luci and Doris Iten. She is survived by her seven children, Michael (Paula), Lois Rogers (John), Ralph, Tom (Mary Frances), Roger (Mary Dunnavan), Steve (Ann Borman), and Mary (John Koehler); 18 grandchildren, Matthew, Michele, Mike (Lisa), Joe (Sara), Pete, Kevin (Bao), Molly (Chris), Elizabeth (Steve), Sara (David), Benji (Erika), Jessica, David, Kate, Andrew, Jake, Anna, Heidi and Lane; 15 great- grandchildren, Isabella, Kate, Noah, Caleb, Mekdes, Sam, Jack, Liam, Henry, Margaret, Sabine, Ava, Noel, Oscar and Jude. Margaret grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota and graduated from Cathedral HS and later from Cosmetology School. She married Ralph Gross in 1939 and they lived in St. Cloud until moving their family to Preston in 1956; she lived there for nearly 50 years until moving to the Twin City area in 2004. Margaret was very involved with her family and with her parishes, St. Paul's in St. Cloud and St. Columban's in Preston. For almost ninety-five years, Margaret lived life fully and joyously. She took great pride in her roles as loving and dutiful daughter, as a faithful friend, as a loyal sister, as a caring aunt, as a dedicated wife, as a giving and patient mother, as an embracing mother-in-law, as a proud and doting grandmother and great-grandmother. She loved to cook so much that her skills were detailed in a cookbook published by her children. She was a passionate crocheter and quilter, a tireless storyteller, a fearless wearer of marvelous hats, and when younger, an especially determined bowler. In her later years, she became an enthusiastic traveler, especially journeying to help with rearing her grandchildren. Throughout her life, she remained a committed Catholic. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 3, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Columban Parish in Preston, MN. Visitation will be Monday evening at the Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. and again on Tuesday morning at St. Columban's one hour prior to the Mass. Her family would like to express thanks to the many people of Preston who were such good friends to Margaret and to the staff and residents of St. Therese of New Hope, the Heathers Assisted Living of Crystal, and especially to the staff of Emerald Crest of Victoria, MN and to the Ridgeview Hospice of Waconia. The loving care Margaret received from Emerald Crest was a gift to her and to her family. The family prefers memorials to Alzheimer's Research, or to a hospice program of donor's choice.

Published on March 3, 2009