Samuel Cross

Samuel Cross, age 83, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 3, 2014, in Naperville, IL, with his daughter and son by his side. Sam was born to Morris and Sylvia Cross on October 9, 1931, in Dagenham, England. A resident of London during WWII, he survived both the bombing of his family home and the hardships of war as a child evacuee, separated from his parents and sent to live in Banbury, England. It was in Banbury, once again reunited, that the Cross family settled after the war. There, Sam met his lovely wife, Grace, and they married in 1959. Together with Sam’s parents, the newlyweds emigrated to the U.S. in 1960.

A certified EMT, Sam also graduated from hospital engineering programs at Michigan State University and went on to hold Plant Manager roles at local hospitals in Pontiac, IL, and Galesburg, IL. He was also the proprietor of Sammy Photos in West Branch, MI, and Head of Buildings and Grounds at Mackinac College, Mackinac Island, MI. Sam retired from Gates Rubber Company in Galesburg in 1993.

Sam was active in the Masonic Lodges of West Branch, MI, and Pontiac, IL. He was a lifelong lover of photography, wrote poetry and thoroughly enjoyed historical fiction, English Sunday dinners with his family and fishing with his best buddy (Ron Ingram of Pontiac, IL). He was an expert at making a hot cup of tea, a bubbling pot of homemade chicken noodle soup or a delicious Sunday roast with all the fixings, as the occasion demanded. He never showed up anywhere empty handed and regularly arrived at the doorsteps of friends and family with hot coffee, donuts, a flowering plant, a bag of groceries or a delightful surprise, as needed. A wonderful husband, proud father and friend, Sam was well known and loved for his smiling good humor and storytelling, beguiling cockney accent as well as his thoughtful kindness and generosity. He was short of stature but stood tall in so many other ways that really matter in life. He is greatly missed by all who had the good fortune to know and love him.

Sam is survived by his children, Deborah Cross (David Gilleran) of Chicago, IL, and John Cross (Kristin) of Naperville, IL, and three grandchildren: Grace and Alec Cross and Henrik Gilleran. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Grace, in 1985, as well as his brother, David, and sister, Betty.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. at Brookside Cemetery in West Branch, MI. Rev. Brian Chace will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sam can be made to the American Cancer Society.