Jacob "Jake" Gross passed away suddenly on June 25, 2009 at the age of 94.

He was born on Nov. 19, 1914, in Wishek, North Dakota, to Wilhelm and Katherina Masseth Gross.

Jacob is survived by his wife of 69 years, Isabelle Gross of Lompoc. They were married in Dickinson, North Dakota on June 26, 1940, and had homes in Billings, Montana, Spokane, Washington, and Lompoc. He is also survived by three daughters, Luella (Lu) Knowles (Chuck) of Lompoc, Kathleen Johnson (Wayne) of Wesley Chapel, Florida, and Linda Ann of Lompoc; three granddaughters, Heather Power (Earl)of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, Michelle (Chelle) Townes (Marc)of Lompoc, and Kimberly Koenig (Chris) of Wesley Chapel, Florida, and 9 great grandchildren, Gwendolyn and Benjamin Power, Sydney, Mason, Gavin, and Peyton Townes, Gabriella, Audrey and Jacob Koenig. He is also survived by his brothers Nicholas Gross of Spokane, WA, Joseph Gross of Gardiner, MT, and sister Brigitta Martin of Linton, North Dakota. He was preceded in death by brothers Anton, Little Joe, David, John, Peter, and sister Clara and a half sister, Theresa.


He and his brothers and sisters grew up on a wheat farm on the plains outside Linton, North Dakota. Jake left the farm in 1933 and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps where he learned to cook for the CCC camps. After serving 3 years, he moved to Bismark, N.D. where he began working in the hotels as a chef. In 1939, he moved to Dickinson, N.D. where he met his wife, Isabelle, who also worked in the Villard Hotel.

Married in 1940, they decided to move to Billings, MT where Jake worked for the Dining Car Dept. of the Northern Pacific Railroad feeding the WWII troops as they traveled on trains on their way to the war. In 1949, he moved his young family to Spokane, WA, where he became a chef at the Spokane Club for 34 years. In 1999, he re-located to Lompoc, CA, to be closer to family.

He enjoyed going to the Senior Citizens Center to exercise and chat with friends. He belonged to the Eagles for many years and enjoyed dancing the night away.


Jacob will always be remembered for his cooking and baking skills and especially for his Christmas gifts of homemade cookies and candies. He was especially proud of having his zucchini cookie recipe published in Sunset Magazine.


Vigil services will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at the chapel of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Thursday at La Purisima Catholic Church with Rev. Nicholas Ingham officiating. Burial will follow at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.

Visitation hours will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the mortuary.


Remembrances can be made to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society.