Allen Leo Gross, (64), Holton, KS, died on August 20, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born on October 5, 1948, in Earling, Iowa, the son of Leo and Ruth Gross. He grew up in Earling, where he completed his elementary and secondary education and graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in 1966. He attended the Professional Business Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota and graduated in 1968 as a Registered Medical Technologist with an associate degree in Laboratory Technology.

In February 1968, he joined the U.S. Army where he served honorably as a medical corpsman. After basic training at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, and further training at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, Allen was sent to US Army Headquarters – Europe, 130th Station Hospital in Heidelberg, West Germany in 1969. He worked in the Hospital as a Registered Medical Technologist until his discharge from the Army in 1971. During his tour of duty in Germany, he met his future wife, Diane. They enjoyed many wonderful trips throughout Western Europe on their BSA motorcycle during this time.

Upon his return to the U.S. in 1971, Allen took a job with the Holton Community Hospital as Medical Technologist and Lab Manager. He held this position until 1979 when he began a full-time farming operation. Although he sold insurance for Kansas Farm Bureau in Holton and AAA in Topeka from 1985 to 1995, his true love was always farming. He continued farming in Jackson County until his health failed in 2013.

Allen loved golfing, cooking, hunting and fishing and particularly loved his annual fishing trips to Canada with family members and close friends. He enjoyed having outdoor fish frys and inviting friends and family to enjoy good cooking and good conversation. He loved playing with his grandchildren. He was a member of St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Holton.

He married Diane S. Eisenbraun on June 30, 1972 at St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Holton, Kansas. To this union were born two children, Chris and Deborah.

Survivors include his wife, Diane; his daughter, Deb Glass and her husband, Ryan, of Three Rivers, Michigan; his son, Chris Gross and his wife, Rachel, of Holton, KS; his sisters, Pat (Gene) Leuschen, Panama, Iowa and JoAnn (Frank) Oppold, Dunlap, Iowa; his brothers, Darrell Gross, Earling, Iowa and Joe (Gail) Gross, Earling, Iowa; his grandchildren Macey, Tiah, Sadey and Thayne Gross of Holton, KS; and Rylie, Lanie, and Dani Glass of Three Rivers, MI. Allen was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Lorraine.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 24, 2013 at St. Dominic Catholic Church in Holton, KS. Burial will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery west of Holton. Rosary will be recited at 6p.m. Friday evening with visitation to follow at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Al will lie in state until 10:15 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, In lieu of flowers, the family strongly suggests memorial donations to be given to the Holton Community Hospital c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS.