Daniel James Gross Obituary

Daniel James Gross, 72, passed away at home on October 30, 2026, following his battle with cancer.

Daniel was the rock that held his family together. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother whose presence provided strength, stability, and love to those around him. He was the person his family could count on, and bringing everyone together was one of the greatest joys of his life. His love for his family was at the center of everything he did.

Daniel shared nearly 50 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Janet. Together, they built a life filled with family, memories, and love. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this December.

He was a proud father to four children: Daniel Jr. (Azur), Bob (Hadley), Doug (Sara), and Jenni (Ryan). His six grandchildren, Ben, Reid, Sophia, Simmons, Skyler, and Lake, brought him tremendous joy, and he loved each of them dearly. Daniel was the oldest of eight siblings. He is survived by his seven siblings.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Barbara and Jim Gross.

Daniel spent much of his childhood and adult life working at Gross Plumbing, dedicating many years to the family business. He also proudly served his community for 20 years as a member of the Amherst Volunteer Fire Department, giving his time to help and protect others. In his later years, Daniel served as the Lorain County Facilities Director, a position he never really considered a job. He genuinely enjoyed what he did, and it was simply another part of his life that brought him purpose and fulfillment.

Outside of work and his community service, Daniel had a lifelong love of flying and enjoyed piloting his own small plane. He was also passionate about collecting cars and especially loved hosting family cookouts. Those gatherings, surrounded by the people he loved, sharing food, laughter, and stories, were among the moments he treasured most.

Daniel leaves behind a legacy of hard work, service, and, above all, family. He will be remembered as the man who held everyone together, the husband who shared nearly five decades of life with his wife, the father who was always there, and the grandfather who cherished his grandchildren. Though his presence will be deeply missed, the memories, love, and family he built will carry on for generations.

The family will be holding a private service. A celebration of Daniel's life will be announced at a later date.