Nancy M. Gross, Died July 4, 2019

Nancy M. Gross

August 26, 1932 – July 4, 2019

LELAND – Nancy Mae Gross, 86, of Leland, passed away Thursday, July 4, 2019 at the Munson Hospice House.

Nancy was born on August 26^th, 1932 in Pontiac, MI, the daughter of Alexander Wright and Vernetta (Mader) Wright.  She grew up in the city of Detroit and attended Cooley High School.  In 1954, Nancy graduated from Michigan State University with an Art major and began her career as a public school teacher in New Haven, CT.  She returned to the Detroit area and taught there for a period of time before meeting her future husband Tom.  They were married on February 9^th, 1957 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Detroit, MI.

Nancy first discovered Leelanau County in 1956 while attending MSU summer art classes at the Old Art Building in Leland.  Here, she created some of her early landscape oil paintings, which later on helped launch her reputation as a locally known artist.  Ultimately, she ventured into watercolors, and her catalog of paintings reflects the inspiration she received from nature, her family and the beautiful landscapes of Leelanau County.  Nancy was in tune with nature, which is illustrated in her body of work.

Often out in the field to sketch or work on her paintings, Nancy also spent a good deal of time in her studio at home.  Here, she would share her love of painting by introducing her family members and neighborhood children to the world of art and helped them to create their own little masterpieces.  Her grandchildren sometimes mentioned how these were great bonding experiences with grandma.

In the mid 1960’s Nancy returned to the Leland area with her husband and sons for a brief summer vacation.  It was then that she was reminded of the extraordinary beauty of Leelanau County that inspired her family, her art, and her soul.  She and her husband knew they would somehow find a way to buy property and spend more time in Leelanau County.  While vacationing one summer at the Jolli-Lodge, they found their dream property and purchased it in 1971.

In the 1970s, while raising her three sons she also owned and operated a preschool in the Detroit area that taught up to 200 children per day.  Children were one of her great passions, especially her six grandchildren, who she adored.  She also loved animals, and they loved her, as they tended to gravitate towards her.

In 1996, Nancy and her husband Tom retired in Leland.  Since then, Nancy made a lasting impression on the community: she volunteered at the Leland Public School, the Leland Public Library, and tutored local high school students.  In addition to being a loving wife, mother and grandmother, Nancy was also a skilled pianist and enjoyed singing in the church choir.

With her infectious smile and that magical twinkle in her eyes, Nancy would light up any room.  She was a strong presence wherever she went and made a lasting impression on everyone she encountered.  Nancy was the family glue: she cherished family get-togethers and always mailed out birthday cards and little gifts to family and close friends.  For years, Nancy sent an unsigned birthday card with no return address to one of her dear friends who shared her birth date, a great example of her mischievous and zesty sense of humor.  She was a free-spirited soul, a sensible character judge, an avid reader on a wide variety of subjects, a lifelong educator, and a great mediator who would bring all kinds of people together with different viewpoints and perspectives to help find common ground.  She will be dearly missed and always remembered by her family and her large circle of friends.

Nancy is survived by her loving husband of sixty-two years, Thomas; her children, Thomas W. (Kelly) Gross, Gerald M. (Katharina) Gross, and Christian J. (Jean) Gross; and her grandchildren, Emily, Bretton, Paul, Carly and Savannah.  

She was preceded in death by her parents and a granddaughter, Abigail Gross.

A Celebration of Nancy’s life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 27 at the Suttons Bay Congregational Church.  The Rev. Dr. Robin Carden will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Leelanau Christian Neighbors, PO Box 196, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 and/or the Leelanau Children’s Center, PO Box 317, Leland, MI 49654 or the Leland Public Schools, c/o Music Program, PO Box 498, Leland, MI 49654.

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