We are very sad to report that Joseph Alexander Gross, age 60, passed away on Wednesday, June 3.
Born August 19, 1959, in Toledo, Ohio to Richard and Marion Gross, Joe was a 1977 graduate of Ottawa Hills High School and attended Ohio State University. He began his career in the electrical industry sweeping the floors at Gross Electric as a kid and working in the warehouse through high school.
Joe moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. for several years, returning to the family business in 1982 to manage their Lima store until 1986, when he transferred to Toledo to expand that location’s outside electrical sales division until he was named Vice President in 1997. During his tenure, he was instrumental in making Gross Electric the premier family-owned electrical supply distributor in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. It was also through his efforts that the company branched into the safety supply business in 2016, creating the G&G Safety Supply store.
It was love at first sight when Joe met his wife, Cary, 29 years ago at his 30th birthday party. Their love continued through the birth of their three kids, Andrew, Emily, and Jason. Joe’s life was centered around family, friends, and adventure. He was his kids’ biggest fan, never missing a tennis match, football game, or a hockey game. Joe always put his family first, including his family at Gross Electric. It was a life mission for Joe to be present with everyone he met, giving his family, friends, employees, and customers his undivided attention; he touched countless lives.
When Joe wasn’t on the Sylvania Country Club golf course with his longtime buddies, he was either popping a hull on his Hobie 16 with anyone willing to sail with him, or picking out articles from the Wall Street Journal to share with family and friends ― all while listening to music, of course. Joe loved to travel, especially near the ocean, and was never one to sit still, always seeking out kiteboarding, zip lining, skydiving and whitewater rafting whenever he could.
Joe was also committed to giving back to the Toledo community. For many years, he spearheaded the donation of smoke detectors by Gross Electric to the City of Toledo Fire Department, volunteered his personal time to Meals on Wheels, and participated in the Thanksgiving Day parade Clown Corps.
Joe is survived by his loving wife and his children, as well as Poncho, his beloved German Shepherd, his sisters Laurie Gross, Polly Collins (Dave Stroeh), and Marcia Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family will receive guests on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at their home from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. A Ceremony of Life will be held at Sylvania Country Club, 5201 Corey Rd. Toledo, on Thursday, June 11, from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. There will be a Sharing of Memories at 12:30pm which will be live-streamed, accessible via walkerfuneralhomes.com.
Contributions in Joe’s memory may be made to Mobile Meals, 2200 Jefferson Ave. Toledo, OH 43604, MemoryLane Care Services, 2500 N. Reynolds Rd. Toledo, OH 43615, or the Sight Center of Northwest Ohio, 1002 Garden Lake Pkwy. Toledo, OH 43614.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph Gross, visit the Walker Funeral Homes’ Tribute Store: https://walker-funeral-home-inc.tributecenterstore.com/?oId=14961022&tag=&mtph=1
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