Josef Gross Obituary (1952 - 2025) - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

Josef John Gross March 11, 2025 - Las Vegas, Nevada With his son by his side, Josef John Gross, known to most as Joe, surrendered to his latest health battle on March 11, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 72 years old. Joe was born on July 16, 1952, in Herrsching, Austria, the second of four sons born to Clarence and Ava Gross. Raised in a military family, Joe lived in various places across Europe and the United States, adapting to the constant changes with a resilient spirit that would become a part of his personality. In his early adulthood, Joe settled in Denver, Colorado. It was there, on a summer day that would change his life, that he met a brown-eyed girl who asked for a ride on his Harley. As the saying goes, the rest is history. Six weeks later, on August 28, 1977, Joe married Pamela Jean Prince, and together they spent 47 years of love and adventure. Pam was always Joe's "brown-eyed girl," and their bond remained unbreakable - through sickness and health, good times and hard times. Joe and Pam welcomed two children into their lives: Nikolas Josef and Heidi Marie. The family made their home in the Seattle area for nearly 20 years, Joe was a hard working, focused father who raised his kids to be loyal and strong. Joe dedicated 30 years to a successful career in telecommunications, starting as a contractor, then working for GTE, Verizon, and Frontier. Though Joe retired in 2017, his passion for a challenge never waned, and he returned to work as a contractor for Atco Communications until his passing. Once his children were adults and on their own, Joe and Pam settled in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. In 2002, Joe embraced perhaps his most cherished role: "Opa Joe." With the birth of his first grandson, Spencer John Wallace, Joe's heart grew even fuller, and by 2006, his second grandson, Braeden Nathaniel, arrived. Joe loved spending his evenings and weekends bug hunting, providing popsicles to all the neighborhood kids, and creating memories that his grandkids would carry forever. In January 2017, Joe and Pam embarked on an exciting new chapter. They purchased a home on wheels and began the long-awaited journey to see the country together. After selling nearly all their belongings and bidding farewell to many beloved friends, they set out to make memories across the United States before finding a new balance as snowbirds between Lake Havasu and Coeur d'Alene. Joe will be remembered for many things, but perhaps most of all his sense of humor. He never turned down an ice-cold Budweiser—always in a bottle—and no matter where he lived, he quickly found his local watering hole, becoming a beloved regular. His holiday decorations were legendary, lighting up the entire block, and his annual holiday parties became an event no one wanted to miss. Joe was the life of the party, always the first on the dance floor, and willing to hire a band just to bring people together. Joe's laughter was infectious, and those lucky enough to witness his big toothless grin knew that he had one of the silliest and sharpest minds around. He had a treasure trove of random facts and practical knowledge that he loved to share, making every conversation with him an opportunity to learn. But above all, Joe's pride and love for his family were unmatched. Though he didn't often wear his heart on his sleeve, when he spoke about his beautiful wife, his children, or his grandkids, his eyes would light up, his joy undeniable. Joe is survived by his loving wife, Pamela Gross; his children, Nikolas Gross and Heidi Provence (husband Brandon); and his two grandsons, Spencer and Braeden. He is also survived by his brothers, Carl Gross, Lee Gross, and Clark Gross. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Ava Gross. A celebration of Joe’s life will be held on Saturday, July 12th, at 1:00 p.m. at Ward Newcomb Memorial Park in Dalton Gardens (6360 N. 4th Street). We invite all who knew Joe to join us for one final "Opa Joe" party as we remember his incredible life.