Martin E. Gross, age 74, of Shiloh, Ill., born July 23, 1949 in Belleville, Ill., passed away January 19, 2024 in Lebanon, Ill.

Martin was raised in the Carbon Hill neighborhood of O'Fallon until his house was moved to make room for Interstate 64. During winters, his father would often urge his children to wake up early after snowfall to make sure the school bus could get into the neighborhood. He was a prolific athlete, playing baseball and basketball and making the varsity team as a freshman. His fellow students voted him prom king in O'Fallon Township H.S. which is where he met his late wife, Kathleen. After graduating, Martin served in the US Navy aboard the USS Aucilla until it was decommissioned in 1970. He then worked as a miner in the River King Underground #1 in Freeburg until a work accident ended his employment there. It was then that he resumed the work of his father as a cement and concrete finisher and once worked on the Poplar Street Bridge. In Shiloh, he coached junior high basketball and became the coach of the first-ever girls team, helping to create the local-area conference. He was always willing to volunteer coach his kids' sports team. And when the soccer team was found without a coach, not only did he step in, he grabbed a book from the library on soccer rules and techniques since he had no experience in the sport. He played in many adult leagues such as Blue Sox baseball in the Mon-Clair Baseball League and the St. Clare Church softball team. Martin and his kids enjoyed rabbit hunting and had many memorable trips to the lake house. Kathleen and Martin enjoyed chicken and beer dances, and he always made it to the sporting events of the grandkids – they were his number one, all-time favorite thing in life: "Papa" would be there any chance he could. If you ask him, he would say he was a Chicago Cubs fan. But there was a little doubt to this claim that perhaps he just relished the good-natured ribbing between Cardinals and Cubs fans. He was a dedicated member of the Jaycees and the local Mason lodge. In his later years, he spent every Tuesday morning at the local Cracker Barrel restaurant with his buddies.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Martha, nee Robson, Gross.

Surviving are his children Ryan (Samantha) Gross, Chad (Jaclyn) Gross, and Lori (Dave) Gross; grandchildren Ben, Martin, Nick, Dan, Catherine, and Frankie; brother Gene (Kathy) Gross; and his best friend Frank (Jacqueline) Shewmaker.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the family to assist with final expenses.

Memorial Visitation: The family will receive friends 4 – 7 p.m., Friday, January 26, 2024 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home. Martin's and Kathleen's remains will be interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at a later date.