Anchor – Eugene R. "Gene" Grosse, 89, of Anchor and Colfax, passed away with his children by his side at 11:30pm, July 2, 2017 at OSF Health Care St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00am, Friday, July 7, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Colfax. Fr. Carl LoPresti will be officiating.

Burial will be in Wiley Cemetery, Colfax, where military honors will be performed.

Visitation will be held from 4-7:00pm, Thursday, at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax, with a rosary recited at 3:30pm.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or Davis-Keber American Legion Post, Colfax.

Gene was born July 21, 1927 in Anchor the son of Joseph and Wilhelmina Lorig Grosse.

He married Elaine Shoemaker on December 26, 1949, in Colfax. She died December 15, 2016.

Surviving are his children, Joseph (Beth) Grosse of Bloomington, Gayle (Michael) O'Shea of Bloomington, Cathy (Brian) Hereford of Colfax, Debbie (Ken Wenger) Getty of Sibley, Paula (Steve) Sandage of Arrowsmith, Janell (Mike) Dill of Normal, and Lisa (Jeff) Winterland of Colfax; 25 Grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and sister, Helen (Kenneth) Weber of Bloomington.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Duayne Grosse, two sisters and one brother.

Gene retired from M & W Gear Company in 1992.

He was a veteran of the United State Navy serving during WWII.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Colfax, Davis-Kerber American Legion Post, where he was a past commander, AmVets, Anchor Township Board, and was resident council president at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa.

Gene was a lifelong die hard Cubs fan. He enjoyed playing cards, jigsaw puzzles and going dancing with his wife.

Gene had a very strong faith and love for his family. He was so very proud of his children and grandchildren.

Some of Gene's final advice to his children was "Life is very short. Life is to enjoy. No need to cry."