Agnes K. “Aggie” Gross, 79, Hays, died Thursday, February 27, 2025, at Via Christi Village in Hays.
She was born January 27, 1946, in Hays and was raised along with her five siblings by her loving and dedicated mother, Anna (Leiker) Bieker. Aggie graduated from Hays High School in 1964 and on June 12, 1965, she was united in marriage to Darrell G. Gross in Hays. He preceded her in death on May 8, 1991. She was a homemaker and worked for many years at HaysMed in central sterilization. A member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Aggie possessed a deep faith and by her family’s estimate, amassed a collection of nearly 80 rosaries and numerous angels. Despite her admission of cooking an inedible pot roast for her boys, she was an excellent baker with chocolate sheet cake being a family favorite. She also possessed a “green thumb” and had beautiful house plants and flowers in her front yard. She was an avid Chiefs, Royals, and Jayhawks fan and the only thing that could keep her from her son’s football games or her grandchildren’s events was the cold weather. Aggie enjoyed quilting and knitting, playing bunco, going to the Casino in Dodge City, and doing crosswords, word searches, and coloring books. Her grandchildren got to see “Nana’s” competitive side when they would play UNO and board games with Aggie. Most of all, she had a tremendous love for her husband Darrell.
Survivors include her three sons, Warren Gross and wife Diane of Amarillo, Texas, Jeff Gross and wife Diana and Mitch Gross and wife Shanna, all of McCook, Nebraska, two sisters, Rosemary Duncan of Denver, Colorado and Leila Knotts of Las Vegas, Nevada, brother-in-law, Cletus Gross and wife Quannah of Ellis, two sisters-in-law, Debbie Pfannenstiel and husband Randy of Hays and Joann Gross of Wichita, seven grandchildren, Emily Confer and husband Christian, Lexi Gross and fiancé Matt Haselhorst, Ryan Gross, Darrell “D.J.” Gross and wife Baily, Allison Gross, Patrick Gross, and Brynn Gross, and a soon to be in April great grandson, Brooks Gross. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother Anna, her husband Darrell, two brothers, Frank Bieker and infant Oliver Bieker, two sisters, Carol Bieker and Anne Hirch, and three brothers-in-law, Ron Duncan, Ed Knotts, and Delbert Gross.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Fr. Brian McCaffrey officiating. Inurnment will follow in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery in Munjor. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:30 on Monday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Tuesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A parish vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 pm on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials in Aggie’s honor may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and condolences and memories of Aggie may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com.