William Charles Grosse

We are saddened to share our beloved father, grandfather, and great grandfather, William Charles Grosse passed away on January 20, 2026.

Dad was born on July 31, 1935 to William and Marion McCord Grosse in Madisonville, Ohio. With Grosse and McCord relatives nearby, his childhood years were filled with family. He was raised in Eastminster Presbyterian Church; a short walk from his home. This instilled in him a love and service for God, family, and community. He spent his life fulfilling a commitment to all three.

He was a Boy Scout in Madisonville Troop 167 and on track and football teams through high school. After graduation he left Ohio to follow his passion for flying, joined the Navy and flew the A4 Skyhawk off the USS Ranger CVA-61. Later in life he joined a flying club and built a kit aircraft, a BD-5, with our next-door neighbor in their sunroom. The plan was to build it and use our street, Blazer Court, as their runway.

His life shifted the day he arrived at his duty station in Alameda, CA. Mom was with her teacher friends at the Officers Club; he was with his squadron mates. He was reserved; she wasn't. As they dated, she kept flash cards with topics/questions in her purse to draw him out. They were married July 24, 1959.

After the Navy, they moved to Ohio where he worked and completed his mechanical engineering degree, and then to Maryland where he oversaw the Information Branch of the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. The agency was shifting to digital records at the time. He was an early pioneer.

Summers meant time at Lake Stevens with Mom's family; a promise Dad made to Mom when they moved to Cincinnati. Upon retirement, they fulfilled their dream, moved west, and built their home on the lake, making space for their growing family. He and Mom loved to snow ski, water ski, and play tennis. They were deeply involved at First Presbyterian Church in Everett singing in the choir and serving on committees. He served as treasurer for 30 years. He built exhibits for the Imagine Children's Museum in their early years including a Tori Gate, canoe, and the Birthday Throne. They travelled to Australia, throughout Europe, Tahiti, and Alaska.

Dad's wisdom came from his mother and his presence from his father. He excelled in math and science and was the go-to homework "advisor" for his grandchildren. He could build anything in his garage workshop and fix any problem. A constant presence in their grandchildren's lives, they attended a wide variety of activities; rarely missing one. Reviewing their graduation programs, he jokingly referred to "the list under your name" as an indicator of their experience and impact at school and a lesson for how to live their lives. Dad's list? William Charles Grosse, devoted husband, son, brother, father, uncle, nephew, cousin, Boy Scout, scholar, writer, traveler, teacher, veteran, builder, pilot, sailor, confidant, mathematician, woodworker, singer, bowler, football player, golfer, architect, "Great Chef of the West", man of God and most beloved Opa.

Dad is preceded in death by his devoted wife of 66 years, Mary Gunderson Grosse. He is survived by his three daughters, Suzanne Tyler (Jeff), Sarah Grosse and Sharon Danitschek (Peter), his beloved 8 grandchildren, Garhett Morgan, William Tyler (Dani), Emma Stutevoss (Franklin), Max Scoringe, Hannah Tyler, Kathryn Salvadalena (Sam), Andrew Scoringe, and Lucy Danitschek and his five great-grandchildren, Marley Scoringe Deam, Veronica and Wesley Salvadalena, Rosemary Stutevoss, and Scottie Cohen Tyler.

A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, March 14th at 3:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Everett. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Imagine Children's Museum, First Presbyterian Church of Everett, or a charity of your choice in William's honor.

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Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

To everything there is a season and

a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born and a time to die,

A time to plant and

a time to pluck up that which is planted,

A time to kill and a time to heal,

A time to break down and a time to build up,

A time to weep and a time to laugh,

A time to mourn and a time to dance,

A time to cast away stones and

a time to gather stones together,

A time to embrace and

a time to refrain from embracing,

A time to get and a time to lose,

A time to keep and a time to cast away,

A time to rend and a time to sew,

A time to keep silent and a time to speak,

A time to love and a time to hate,

A time of war and a time of peace.