Mildred R. “Milly” (Schultz) Gross, 98, a lifelong resident of Shawano, passed away Dec. 12, 2013, while staying at her son and daughter-in-law’s (Karl and Lucy) in Novi, Michigan. A cremation and funeral service was held Dec. 18 in Novi attended by family and many of Milly’s Michigan friends.
Milly was born July 1, 1915, to William E. Schultz, a German immigrant and a longtime Shawano barber, and Ella W. (Schulz) Schultz. Milly had two younger sisters, Verna (Henning) and Marcella (Marceil). Milly attended the old Lincoln School and vividly remembered the day it burned down and how scary it looked through the smoke and mist.
Milly met her future husband, Gerhard (Tubby) Gross, at Shawano High School on Franklin Street and together they attended her junior prom. After graduating from high school in 1932, she attended Oshkosh Business College. Milly returned to Shawano and began working for the Relief Department, which was originally located above the old Lauerman’s department store. Later it became the Public Welfare Department and was located on East Fifth Street just off Main Street.
On May 9, 1937, Milly and Tubby were married and shortly thereafter began to raise their family. Milly was a full-time mother, homemaker, an excellent cook, baker, seamstress and companion to Tubby. Milly was an active member of the Shawano Historical Society and served as the secretary for many years as well as serving on the board of directors. In 1979 she was the 42nd member to be awarded with a life membership in the Shawano County Historical Society. In 1969 both Milly and Tubby became members of the Neville Museum Geology Club in Green Bay. Milly served on the board of directors for the club, and both she and Tubby helped organize and participate in many shows and “rock hound” field trips sponsored by the club. Milly enjoyed attending plays at the Mielke Theater, Shawano High School band concerts, Sweet Adeline and barbershop concerts, and art fairs both near and far.
Milly and Tubby traveled all over the country visiting their children, cousins, longtime friends they had grown up with and new friends they had made in the rock club. In her later years she loved to play Scrabble, most often with her sister Verna, but she would take on all comers. Her mind never faltered and she was always a source for “what happened when” not only in her family’s lives but in the history of Shawano. She was often kidded about having the first piece of tin foil she ever used, but in fact she did still use her original sewing machine, from 1937, well into her 90s. She used the same waffle iron for 75 years — they don’t make waffle irons like that anymore and they don’t make moms like Milly anymore either; well, they probably still do, it’s just that we all miss her greatly.
Milly was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Tubby; her two sisters, Marcella and Verna; a son, William; and son-in-law, Larry Davis.
She is survived by four children, Virginia Davis, Mary (Dave) Christianson, Karl (Lucy) Gross, Walter (Mary Redman) Gross. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Categories
