Theodore Kross Obituary

Theodore H. "Ted" Kross, age 95, died August 21, 2011. He was born March 3, 1916, in Elmhurst, Illinois, the eldest son of Michael and Gertrude Heegard Kross. Theodore never married, and is survived by his brother, Robert Kross, of Elmhurst, and nine nieces and nephews living out of the area. He was predeceased by his sisters, Dorothy Plassman and Rosemary Hilberg, and nephew, Jeff Hilberg. He attended York Community High School, then Elmhurst College, graduating in 1938 with a BA. He continued his education at Northwestern University School of Law, and earned his JD degree at Chicago-Kent School of Law in 1941. During World War II, he served as a Captain in the United States Army Air Corps, and was stationed in the South Pacific as an aircraft controller and just missed being part of the invasion of Japan because of the atomic bomb having been dropped. In 1946, he started his career as an attorney with Chicago Title and Trust. He was recalled to serve his country during the Korean War, and served from 1950 through 1952, after which he resumed his career at Chicago Title and Trust. During his professional life, he spent his vacation time traveling around the 50 states of the USA, and also around the world, visiting Africa, New Zealand, China, Hungary, and several other countries in Asia and Europe. He took thousands of photographs during his travels, and would gladly present a travelogue when asked by friends or family. He was a member of the Elmhurst Historical Society, the Elmhurst Historical Commission, Friends of Elmhurst Public Library, Art Institute of Chicago, Morton Arboretum, Friends of the Elmhurst Art Museum. He was also a member of the National Alumni Association at Elmhurst College, serving as president from 1961-1963. He was a recipient of a Founders Medal from Elmhurst College in 1991, which states, "Theodore Kross, a graduate of the Class of 1938, was recognized for his 'flair for finding good in all of his surrounds, and quiet yet sound knack to use his abilities to solve problems." Ted was honored at an Elmhurst City Council meeting on May 21, 2001, and awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and words of praise from Mayor Thomas Marcucci. The Mayor praised him for his commitment to his community and recognized him as a citizen that consistently volunteers his time to serve the community. He could be found at the Elmhurst Historical Museum on Tuesdays, keeping tabs on his genealogical projects. He served over 11,000 volunteer hours from 1981-2011, and served as one of the first commission members in 1970. A memorial service honoring his life will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, November 12, 2011, at the Elmhurst Historical Museum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation or to Elmhurst College Scholarship Fund.