Laurel Dean (L.D.) Ross

February 15, 2018

Service Details

L.D. Ross of Altoona, IA was born on November 8th 1939, to Virgil and Juanita (Pittman) Ross, in Putnam Co. MO. He passed from this life on February 15th 2018, at Taylor House in Des Moines, IA surrounded by his loving family.

L.D. was raised on a small farm on the Iowa-Missouri state line, in the Mendota, MO and Cincinnati, IA area. He graduated from Cincinnati High School in 1957.

On November 28th 1958, he married Dora Sue Pickett. To this union, three sons were born, Gregory Dean, Michael Lee, and Todd Douglas.

He attended the Toledo Meat Cutting School in Toledo, OH earning a living cutting meat around the state of Iowa.

L.D. then learned that he had a knack for selling, and his career took off selling for Forney Arc Welders, National Laboratories and Wyandotte (BASF) Chemical Co. in that order. In 1975, L.D. and a friend started their own business, Monaghan-Ross Corporation in Des Moines, IA. In 1983, L.D. began his own company, Ross Chemical Systems, Inc. in Des Moines, IA which he ran with the help of his sons until a short while before his death. L.D. also ran the family Century Farm on the Iowa-Missouri state line south of Cincinnati, IA raising cattle. It has been in the Ross family since October 1910. He was a member of the Iowa Salers Association, the American Salers Association, and Iowa Cattleman’s Association.

L.D. is survived by his wife of 59 ½ years, Sue, three sons, Greg, Mike (Renee), and Todd (Stephanie), three grandsons, Tony (Jessica), Andy, Jameson (Sarah), and one granddaughter, Janae (Brandon) Leo. He is also survived by two great grandsons, Ethan Ross and Jonas Ross, two great granddaughters, Mylie Leo and Cashlyn Leo, and many, many family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and grandson, Nicholas Lee Ross.
Visitation will be held at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 105 4th St. SW Altoona, IA Friday Feb. 23rd, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A graveside service procession will start at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday Feb. 24th at the Cincinnati Community Center, 100 Depot Lane in Cincinnati, IA leading to the White Cemetery.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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