David Ross

David Reese Ross, age 85, passed peacefully in the early hours of December 31st, 2017.
David was born on October 16th, 1932 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin to his parents Elmer
and Ethel Reese Ross. He attended Concordia High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
where he graduated with honors. David went on to attend college at the University of
Wisconsin at Stevens Point where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education and also
graduated with honors. His Master's Degree was earned at UW-Madison.

While attending college, David met Nadine J. Bahr. They met through Gamma Delta, a
Lutheran Student Fellowship. After they both graduated from the university, they
married on August 6, 1955.

During the Korean War, David entered the service as a Security Protocol 3 and served at
Vint Hill Farms Station in Warrenton, Virginia, and then transferred to the Army
Reserves in Wisconsin. He received a National Defense Medal, Marksman Carbine
Caliber 30, and a Good Conduct Medal. In 1967 he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of
the Illinois National Guard, Joliet Township.

David's 40-year career in public education started in 1957 as an English teacher at
Stoughton and then a high school principal at Watertown and Hales Corners, Wisconsin.
Next he ably guided the inner-city high school and junior college in Joliet, Illinois during
four years of the racial unrest of the l960's. The following 27 years he served as
Superintendent of Schools in Elkhorn, Menomonie, Gilman and St. Francis, WI, retiring
in 1996 with a commendation from the State Superintendent of the Department of
Education. David is remembered as a kind, good man, humorous, very intelligent,
inspiring and an excellent leader.

The Lutheran Church, Sunday school, and various choirs were of great importance in
David's life. He also served as President of the Kiwanis Club. David loved to travel,
spending much of his vacation time and retirement exploring the world with his travel
partner and wife, Nadine. In his later years, he captured those travels through his paintings.
His gift for the visual arts emerged as a way to combat Parkinson's disease, but
it soon became a way to express himself artistically. Painting became more than a hobby, it was a friend. David loved spending time with his family and supporting his children
and grandchildren by attending their many sporting and art events. Sideline cheering was
one of his favorite things to do. Above all, David loved his wife, children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. He was a devoted, steadfast, loyal and compassionate leader of
the family.

David is survived by his loving wife Nadine, and their five children Katherine Bidwell,
Susan Wesner, Peter Ross, Rebecca Radcliffe and Rachel Anderson; sons-in-law
Mark Bidwell, Steven Wesner, Scott Radcliffe and Mark Anderson; daughter-in-law
Peggy Ross; fourteen grandchildren, Stephanie, Sarah, Jonathan, Richard, Harrison,
Jennifer, Paul, Heather, Megan, Kyle, Daniel, Emily, Natasha and Jessica; their spouses
and seven great-grandchildren, Josie, Renee, Florence, Eleonore, Thomas, Charlotte and Warren; brother-in-law, Roderick Bahr, and sisters-in-law Nancy Ross, Suzanne Ross, Grace Bahr, Donna Bahr, Maureen Foster and many loving nieces, nephews and friends in
both Wisconsin and North Carolina.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, John Ross and Charles Ross; father-and mother-in-law, Herbert and Mary Bahr; brothers-in-law, Vernon Bahr, Gary Foster and Robert Koehler and sister-in-law Ruth Koehler.

The Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 13th, 2018 at the Twin
Lakes Community Chapel, 3801 Wade Cable Drive, Burlington, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas or to
Friedens Lutheran Church, 6001 N.C. 61 North, Gibsonville, NC 27249.
You may sign the online register book at www.lowefuneralhome.com.

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