Leo J. Gross Jr.

Leo J. Gross Jr., 90, a resident of Bonita Springs since 1973 passed away peacefully at home on June 1, 2021 surrounded by his wife Kay and loving family. Leo was born in Dover, NJ on 28 April 1931 to Leo and Martha Gross Sr.. Leo’s first wife of 47 years, Lois preceded him in death in 1998, along with his daughter Brenda Hall in 2019. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Kay Gross, his son Dean Gross and his wife Karen from Bonita Springs, his sister-in-law Gail Noll of Citrus Springs, FL, his son-in-law Andy Hall of Estero, and three stepdaughters; Candace Godley of Kansas City, MO, Carrie Cline of Tucson, AZ, and Christina Wegmueller of Corpus Christi, TX. Leo’s extended family includes five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren along with their families, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. As a young man Leo lived in Dover and the Lower Berkshire Valley, NJ where he was a standout student, and in his teens actively supported rallies and resource collections for the U.S. war effort in WWII. Following graduation from high school and his marriage to Lois in 1951, he settled in Succasunna, NJ, where he raised two children, served in the New Jersey National Guard, and was a Volunteer Fire Fighter. He also was on the Roxbury Twp Board of Health, a Scout Leader, and member of the Masonic Lodge of Netcong, NJ. Leo enjoyed a lifelong love of technical occupations and hobbies, from his early days as a TV repairman, followed by his time as installation technician for communications systems, and eventually as a rocket technician for Reaction Motors, Inc. (RMI) for almost two decades. RMI merged with Thiokol in 1958, where it produced the XLR-99 engine that powered the X-15, America’s first hypersonic rocket powered Spaceplane. Leo’s early interest in aviation led to his private pilot license, and at age 70 saw him build and fly gyrocopters for fun with the Immokalee Flyers Club. Leo moved to Newark, Ohio with his family in 1969. There he worked as a Plant Manager for Fairfield Scientific, saw his daughter Brenda graduate from high school, and his son marry his college sweetheart Karen in 1973, followed by their graduation from The Ohio State University in 1976, Dean as a Pharmacist and Karen with a degree in Psychology, which led to a career as a Mental Health Therapist. In 1973, Leo his wife Lois and Brenda relocated to Bonita Springs, where he opened the B & L Fixit Shop on Old 41. Several years later he gained his Florida Electrical Contracting License and expanded his business into construction of commercial and residential real estate. Brenda attended Edison Community College in Fort Myers, completing her degree in Pensacola, FL as a Dental Hygienist in 1977. There she met Andy, a Naval Flight Student, and they were married in 1978 in Bonita Springs. Leo met his future wife Kay in 1998 through mutual friends, Sarah and Dr. Gary Stevens. They began a loving second chapter of their lives in Bonita Springs for over 21 years on August 1, 1999, joining the First Baptist Church, where Leo became a Deacon in September 2010. Leo retired from his electrical business and worked for Dr. Stevens as a computer installer and administrator, dental equipment repairman, and eventually as a Dental Technician until he was 85 years old. Leo was that rare multi-talented individual able to make anything work, with a scalawag sense of humor. Memorial services are scheduled for 6 p.m. on 20 July at The First Baptist Church (New Life Church) in Bonita Springs. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home, Family Owned Since 1978.

Leo J. Gross Jr.

April 28, 1931 - June 1, 2021