Marilyn Gross

Marilyn Gross, 90, of Churubusco, passed away on May 16, 2025, at Miller's Merry Manor at Oak Pointe. She was born in Columbia City on December 21, 1934, to the late Jesse and Velma (Crawford) Nicodemus. She spent her formative years in Whitley and Allen County and graduated from Huntertown High School in 1952. Marilyn married Donald E. Gross in Columbia City on September 20, 1953. They settled in Churubusco in 1969 after moving to Allen County in 1964. Before she had children, she worked at Lincoln Life. She spent the last twenty years of her career as a bookkeeper for Gross Drainage, where she retired in 2000. She was a woman of simple pleasures who took delight in watching food channels and Wheel of Fortune. A competitive spirit, she was fond of playing games, especially Aggravation. She was a long-time member of Churubusco United Methodist Church. What mattered most to Marilyn was enjoying the company of her family and friends. She is survived by her son, Todd (Deb) Gross; her daughters, Teresa (Greg) Salesman and Tamara (Tom) Miller; eight grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Tracie Gross; seven brothers, Keith, Glen, Ronald, Larry, Kenneth, Gail, and Jay; three sisters, Delores Zeigler, Sharon Diffendarfer, and Elaine Guiff. A funeral service will occur at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Churubusco United Methodist Church, 750 North Main Street, with calling one hour before the service. The family will also receive family and friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco Chapel, on Thursday, May 22, 2025, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Marilyn will be laid to rest at Eel River Cemetery, Churubusco. Memorials may be directed to the Churubusco United Methodist Church or Heartland Hospice. Sheets & Childs Funeral Home has been entrusted with these arrangements.