Dorothy Mae Jackson Gross, 91

Dorothy Mae Jackson Gross, 91, was born on February 21, 1932 in Ainsworth, NE and was the third of five children to Andrew and Ruby (Taylor) Jackson. She graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1949. On October 10, 1950, she was united in marriage to Charles Jons Gross of Johnstown, NE. To this union five children were born. Charles and Dorothy lived on his family ranch five miles west of Johnstown where they raised their family. In the summers she fed their contract hay crew three times a day, also working part-time as a clerk in the Johnstown Post Office. In May of 1977, they moved from the ranch to a home in Wood Lake, NE with their youngest son.

After Charles’ early passing, Dorothy sold the home in Wood Lake and moved back to Ainsworth. Dorothy had numerous jobs throughout the years. She worked as a telephone operator, weather girl at Ainsworth Airport, caregiver for special needs adult and helped numerous relatives. Dorothy enjoyed music and singing, as well as playing cards throughout her life. She had great fun as a member of the Johnstown Gals Extension Club, the United Methodist Church Auxiliary, the Home Band, the Wood Lake Eastern Star, and for over 30 years as a BPOE Does Drove #54 member, as well as a Brown County Hospital Auxiliary volunteer. She spent many years traveling to Lincoln as a member on the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association Board.

Dorothy lived her last three years at Cottonwood Villa Assisted Living in Ainsworth. She loved her room and watching the traffic on the highway pass by. She could often be found walking the halls of Cottonwood Villa, and weather permitting she sat with her friends or walked outside.

Dorothy passed to her eternal life on March 16, 2023, at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; their newborn son, George Edgar; her parents; sisters, Jean Masters, Bonnie Heineman DeMarr and Ruby Larsen Garrett; nephews, Rex Jackson, and Robert DeMarr; and niece, Susan DeMarr Keck.

She leaves in passing four children, Elaine Ginter (and fiancé Jim Roblyer) of Bassett, NE, Janet (Ed) Rupke of Sun City, AZ, John (Peggy) Gross of Johnstown and Bob (Shelly) Gross of Everett, WA; along with eight grandchildren, Tonny (Michelle) Beck of Ainsworth, Jeremey (Kristin) Beck of Bellingham, WA, Joseph Rupke of Glendale, AZ, Sarah Rupke of Phoenix, AZ, Sheena (Brent) See of North Platte, NE, Kelsei Gross of Sioux Falls, SD, Dr. Keanna Gross of Kanopolis, KS and Taylor (Natasha) Gross of Cocoa, FL; five great-grandchildren, Jacce (Britley) Beck and Holldyn Beck of Ainsworth, Finnegan and Lily Beck of Bellingham, WA and Isabella Rupke of Glendale, AZ; brother, Andrew “Jack” Jackson of Casper, WY; four nephews, five nieces, many cousins, and even more friends We wish to extend our most heartfelt thank you to Cottonwood Villa for the loving care of our mother, to the Sandhills Care Center, as well as to the hospice nurses for the short amount of time in her last days on earth.

Funeral Services were held at the Ainsworth United Methodist Church in Ainsworth on Friday, March 24, 2023, with burial in the Mt. Hope Cemetery at Wood Lake. Pastor Martin Leeper officiated at the services. Music was provided by Linn Baxter and Lisa Wiebesiek singing “In The Garden” and “The Lord’s Prayer” (Old Version). The Congregation sang “How Great Thou Art”. Casket Bearers were all her grand and greatgrandchildren. The Obituary was read by Tonny Beck and a scripture was read by Ed Rupke. Organizational Rites were conducted by the Bethany Chapter #113 O.E.S. Memorials have been suggested to the Cottonwood Villa, Mt. Hope Cemetery or the Sandhills Care Center through Hoch Funeral Home, or a place of your choosing. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfunerahome.com.