David Lee Gross

David Lee Gross, 84, died Sunday, June 2, 2024, from complications due to the West Nile Virus.

Dave was born on October 21, 1939, in Denver, Colorado to Leland C. and Claire Y. Gross. He married Jean Claire Gallas on August 6, 1966. They have a daughter, Kirsten Anne (Eric) Heerdt of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and two grandchildren, Russell David (Jenifer) Heerdt, Aztec, New Mexico, and Elizabeth Claire Heerdt of Durango, Colorado.

There will be a visitation on Friday, June 7^th from 3-6pm at Horan & McConaty, 1091 S Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO 80246.

A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at Saint Michael and All Angels’ Church – 1400 S. University Blvd, Denver, CO 80210    - on Saturday, June 8^th at 11:00am with a reception following the service.

In his teenage years, Dave worked at the Denver Stockyards and City Floral Greenhouses. His time at City Floral lead to a long career in horticulture with the Ball Seed Company where he was a salesman and national sales manager eventually moving to St. Charles, Illinois. He and his family later returned to Denver and City Floral, becoming part owner with Ron Brady in 1978 until his retirement in 2007. He continued to use his horticulture knowledge and skills while maintaining the landscape at St. Michaels and as an avid garden railroad enthusiast.

In his retirement, Dave and Jean traveled extensively. Dave left an indelible mark on the steam railroading community with his efforts to record the last breath of steam at various locations across the globe. His love of railroading began at 15-years-old, when he grabbed a camera and headed out on his first railfanning trip with life-long friend Jim Ehernberger. His photography and videography will forever be a part of railroading history. As a founding partner in the High Country Railroad in Golden, Colorado, one of the first members of the Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, a member of The Lexington Group, a volunteer for Midwest Old Threshers Association in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and a first-generation steam preservationist, his legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those who follow in his footsteps.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Michael and All Angels’ Church, The Center for Railroad Photography or Midwest Old Threshers.