Obituary of Merle Vernon Ross

Merle "Bud" Ross died on August 5 at his home surrounded by his family after a long and productive life. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m., Friday August 9, 2013 at Kramer Funeral Home with the scripture service at 4:30. The funeral celebration will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday August 10, 2013 at St. Francis Xavier Church in Dyersville, with burial to follow at St. Francis Cemetery. Bud was born on September 24, 1927 in Lamont, Iowa, to Victor Ross and Alice (Graham) Ross. He attended Epworth schools and graduated from Loras Academy High School. He served in the US Army, graduated from Loras College in 1951 and later did post-graduate work at the University of Northern Iowa. Bud married the love of his life, Jane Schlueter of Dubuque, in 1951 and they settled in Stacyville, where Bud was the first lay teacher and coach in the school's history. In 1952, Jane and Bud moved to Dyersville where Bud was the first lay person on staff at Xavier High School, teaching math and science and coaching sports. Bud and Jane were blessed with 10 children, 28 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Bud was a gifted athlete and played baseball and basketball with many area teams. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox and played professionally with the White Sox organization as a pitcher progressing from Class B to AAA teams and to White Sox spring training before an arm injury forced him to leave the sport. He once struck out 19 of 21 batters over 7 innings only to give up a home run to the great Ted Williams. Bud always said that the home run ball, although not officially registered by NASA, was the first satellite in orbit. Bud came close, however, hitting the longest home run ball out of the Dyersville ball park. He was elected to the Dubuque County Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. In 1955, Bud began a long and successful insurance career first at the Showalter Ross Insurance Agency. When he bought out Linus Showalter, it became Ross Insurance Agency and then Insurances Associates Inc. Bud was a highly respected insurance professional and brought the highest standards and integrity to his insurance business. Under the mentorship of Dr. Emmett Vaughan, he earned many industry certifications, including the prestigious CPCU certification (Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter) in 1976. He taught insurance agency management and sales to other agents in 14 states. He served on several insurance committees and then as President of the Independent Agents of Iowa. His numerous awards and designations included Outstanding Agent of the Year and the President's Citation of Outstanding Service to the Insurance Industry. He retired and sold his agency to Tim English in 1997, and was inducted into the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame in 2013. Bud loved the community of Dyersville, and gave his time and talents to make the town a better place to live. He was elected mayor in 1959 and was instrumental in setting up much of the infrastructure of the growing town. He set up the first Planning and Zoning Commission, directed the first comprehensive curb and gutter program, and participated in establishing the public library. In 1958 he was named the Dyersville Jaycee Outstanding Boss of the Year, and in 1959 he received the Dyersville Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, the Outstanding Jaycee of the State of Iowa, and he was runner-up for the national Outstanding Jaycee Award. When the State of Iowa passed a law requiring the formation of public school districts with a minimum of 300 students, Bud agreed to travel the countryside, becoming the driving force and Chair of the committee that organized the Western Dubuque School District in 1961. Then in the early 1960's Bud organized a movement to bring a hospital to Dyersville, serving as head of the fundraising committee and Chairman of the Hospital Board for 8 years. Life magazine ran a feature story on Bud and the hospital project, and in 1967 he turned the first spade of dirt for its construction. Later, Bud taught anti-drug seminars throughout the area. In recent years, his energies were directed to the Respect Life/Anti-Abortion movement. Despite all his achievements and projects, Bud's priority was his family. He enjoyed planning and engineering family lake vacations, teaching all his kids to waterski. He became a private pilot, and flew for business and pleasure around the country. He remained an avid sportsman, whether with golf, running, or tennis, and went on annual fishing trips to Canada. He and Jane learned to scuba dive when they were 60 and enjoyed dive trips with family members in many locations. All his life, Bud was a consummate teacher. Whether in the classroom, as a coach, in his insurance career, or with his family, he imparted hard-won wisdom, practical knowledge, and the blessings of his faith. A talented and amazing man, he believed in giving back and used his gifts to benefit the greater good. Bud is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jane Schlueter Ross; ten children: Dr. Susan (Emil) Goodner/Rinderspacher of Iowa City, IA; Michael (Sandy) Ross of Arlington, IA; Amy (Ken) Willenborg Florian of Hoffman Estates, IL; Kathryn (Mark) Gavin of Williamsburg, IA; John (Jere) Ross of Marengo, IA; Janet (Kevin) Keating of Iowa City, IA; Daniel (Melissa) Ross of Iowa City, IA; Joseph (Mary) Ross of Cincinnati, OH; James (Susan) Ross of Excelsior, MN, and Dr. David (Anne) Ross of Litchfield, MN. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Beckman High School, the Haiti Fund, or Hospice of Dubuque. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.