December 14, 1931 - December 9, 2020
A long time Slocan Valley resident, Harald (Harry) Alfons Gross passed away in Nelson on December 9, 2020. Harald is predeceased by his life partner, Ann Swanson Gross, mother, Gertrude, sister Ruth and brothers, Heinz and Rudolf. He is survived by his brother Gerhard and sister Karen (Zinz), eight nieces, three nephews and several grand nieces and grand nephews.
Harald was born in the free city state of Danzig in present day Poland on December 14, 1931. He spent the war-years as a child in occupied Danzig then several years in post war Germany with his mother and five siblings. He emigrated to Canada in 1953 as a young man and spent several years working throughout western Canada before moving to the Kootenays in 1965 where he attended the Kootenay School of Art in Nelson.
He met his life partner Ann Swanson in Art School. Ann and Harald married in 1967. They spent the next several years in Haida Gwaii and Victoria before returning to the Slocan Valley in 1979.
Harald retired from the British Columbia Ministry of Highways and Transportation, Construction Branch, in 1988 and remained in the Slocan Valley golfing at Valley View Golf Course, gardening, driving his sporty cars, relaxing with his cats and enjoying conversation and a beer or two with many friends around his dinner table or sun deck at his home in the forest in Winlaw. Harald led an interesting and full life and will be missed by his family and friends.
Harald's cremated remains will be interned with his beloved Ann in Dumont Creek Cemetery in the Slocan Valley. Internment and a celebration of life will take place in the summer or fall of 2021.