Obituary: Ross

Wallace John Ross, Jr., 96, of Fairbury, passed away at 3:30 pm, December 7, 2025, at Serenity Villa, Fairbury.

Cremation has been accorded. 

Wallace was born November 9, 1929, in Iron River, MI, the son of Wallace John Ross, Sr. and Odeth Mary (Fregetto) Ross.

He first married Betty Mearl Williams on December 1950. She died September 1984. He then married Mary Lynn Hoffman on July 1999. She died July 2023.

Surviving are his children, R. Michael (Karen) Ross of Monmouth, OR, Richard (Susan) Ross of Apple Valley, MN, Cynthia (Tito) Dawis of St. Paul, MN, and Cheryl Ward of Red Wing, MN; 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by his sister Roxane.

Wallace was a turkey broker. He owned and operated Ross Enterprises.  He graduated from Iron River High School in 1947, serving as class president.  He then went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Poultry Science.  He served in the U.S. Air Force 1948-1953 and provided flight training, maintenance and served in the Air Force band, playing the trombone.

Wallace was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman.  He loved fishing with his sons and grandsons and especially loved fly fishing in Montana.