Robert Vanderveer Ross

Born December 11, 1921 in Indianola, Iowa to Hobart and Alta Ross. Bob passed away in Spirit Lake, Iowa on August 25, 2014. Robert (Bob) and his parents moved to Winterset, Iowa early in his youth and lived there until 3rd grade. His family moved to Des Moines and he was there through high school where he graduated from Roosevelt High School. He then went to Grinnell College and graduated January of 1943. At Grinnell he met Frances Parker and they married September 1942. They were married 68 years at her death January 2010. Bob served his country in the United States Army Air Corp in 1943 until 1946. Bob and Fran had five children, Larry Robert (deceased), Carl Hobart (Nancy) of Leona, TX, Kathleen Frances Saunders of Prescott, AZ, Mary Franken (John) of Spirit Lake, and Jane Ross-Lujan of Los Alamos, NM. Bob with his father, Hobart and brother Keith built, owned and operated Vacation Village on West Okoboji Lake from 1948 to 1985. Bob was one of the last early large resort owners in the Iowa Great Lakes region. At retirement Bob and Fran divided their time between Okoboji, Florida and Arizona. He is survived by his children, Carl, Kathy, Mary and Jane. Five grandchildren, Jeff (Kim) Ross, Jason (Lisa) Ross, Greg (Angela) Ross, Thomas and Kevin Lujan. Also, five great grandchildren, Noah, Ryan, Nicolas, Makenzie, and Dylan Ross and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Bob was preceded in death by his wife Frances, son Larry, and his parents Hobart and Alta Ross and brother Keith. No services will be held at the request of Bob.