Умер Харли Гросс, предприниматель и ветеран из Мэдисона, занимавшийся деревообработкой и коллекционированием автомобилей

HHarley Gross, age 81, of Madison, passed away Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at the Madison Regional Health System. Funeral services will be at 11 AM on Friday, August 28th at Madison United Methodist Church with Pastor Peggy Hanson officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 PM on Thursday at Rustand-Weiland Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 7 PM and will continue on Friday one hour prior at the church. Burial with military honors will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Marion, SD. Harley was born on January 14, 1945, in Freeman, South Dakota, to Erwin R. and Elizabeth S. (Tschetter) Gross. Harley spent his early years on a farm near Freeman, later moving into town with his family. He graduated from Freeman Academy in 1963 and attended Freeman Junior College from 1963 to 1965. He then attended Sioux Falls College from 1965 to 1968, graduating with a B.A. degree. While in college, he married Dianne J. Tschetter in Freeman on November 25, 1966. They welcomed their daughter, Melissa, on July 31, 1968, and their son, Christopher, on November 7, 1971. Harley was enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard from September 1969 to September 1975. After completing college, Harley and Dianne lived in Sioux Falls for a short time and then moved to Beresford. Harley became his own boss when he and Dianne purchased Mac’s Cafe in Beresford. After selling the cafe in 1980, they moved the family to Madison. Harley spent the rest of his career in the trucking industry, at both Apple Lines and then at B & G Transportation until his retirement, managing accounts receivable and overseeing licensing and permitting. Harley found great satisfaction in working with his hands and he became a self-taught wood smith. This led to Harley purchasing many tools to support his hobby, allowing him to accomplish many projects including refinishing the basement of the house, building furniture pieces for family and friends, building their new garage, and working on a number of various projects around the house. One of his bigger projects, while the main floor of the house was being remodeled, was making all his own custom oak woodwork for the baseboard trim, doorways, and windows. Harley was detail oriented and took pride in his work, always doing the job the right way. This strong work ethic, along with the importance of being dependable, responsible, and always persevering, are values he passed onto his family. In the late 1990s, he developed an interest in participating in car shows and bought his first vehicle to show, a 1990 Chevy 454SS pickup. He later purchased a 1995 Corvette. He spent many hours customizing both vehicles and keeping them detailed which resulted in a trophy collection. Harley enjoyed attending the car shows with Dianne and his son, Christopher, who both showed their Camaros. Harley was family oriented and will be remembered for his giving spirit, and for always being there to lend a helping hand to his children and grandchildren. His faith was important to him, and he was a member of the United Methodist Church in Madison. While being a member, he had served as Chairman of the Trustees. Harley also had a very special place in his heart for the cats that shared his life. Harley is survived by his wife, Dianne J. Gross; their two children, Melissa (Michael) DeNoon and Christopher (Kathy) Gross; and six grandchildren, Jonathan, Matthew, and Mikayla DeNoon, and Allison, Christopher Jr., and Dawson Gross. He was preceded in death by his parents, Erwin R. and Elizabeth S. Gross; and his brother Donald E. Gross.