Tobias Xenos "Toby" Gross, age 27, of O'Fallon, born April 13, 1987 at Scott AFB, Ill., died October 20, 2014 at Memorial Hospital, Belleville, Ill.

The son of military parents, Toby grew up in O'Fallon, graduating from O'Fallon Township High School in 2005. He was a talented and competitive hockey player in high school and played for several teams throughout the metro-east. As an OTHS senior, Toby was named the Defensive Player of the Year. He attended Vatterott College, where he earned his Medical Assistant certification. He had a strong work ethic and valued his work contributions at his most recent job as a care provider for disabled adults at Trinity Services in Mascoutah. His determination and support of his parents helped him to overcome challenges as a young adult.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents William and Joann Gross.

Surviving are his parents Thomas and Gearline, nee Richardson, Gross, of O'Fallon; his step-sister Andrea Renee Herzog-Warren of Columbus, Ohio; his maternal grandparents John and Elizabeth Richardson of Charleston, S.C.; his aunts and uncles Chantalle Mack, Gournette Richardson, John Richardson III, William Gross, Reba Horcsik, Susan Rupright, Gloria Boyle, and Linda Brown; many cousins, and special loves of his life, Andrea, Trinity and Serenitie.

Memorial donations are suggested to NAMI of Southwestern Illinois (Nat'l Alliance on Mental Illness) c/o Gateway Regional Medical Center, 2100 Madison Ave., 4th Floor, Granite City, IL 62040 or online at www.namiswi.org. Donations will also be accepted at the funeral home.

Visitation: Friends may call from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 25, 2014 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W Washington St., O'Fallon.

Funeral: 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 25, 2014 at the funeral home, with Rev. Rick Hodshire officiating.