Richard Charles Ross, known to all as Charlie, passed away surrounded by loving wife and all his children at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton On January 14, 2020. He was 89 years old. Charlie was born in Burlington, IA on October 5, 1930, son of Melvin Ross and Marjorie Johnson Ross. He grew up in Burlington, graduating from Burlington High School in 1948. After high school, Charlie attended and graduated from Burlington Junior College, followed by Iowa State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Chemistry in 1952. After college, he served his country in the United States Army. He was honorably discharged in 1954. In June of 1955, Charlie married Ann Norton at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Burlington, IA. He worked for John H. Witte & Sons in Burlington, until 1960, when he took a job as a chemist for Freeman Chemical, and the couple moved to Port Washington, WI. He retired in the spring of 1993. Charlie was very involved in his community and his church. He was a member of St. John XXIII Parish in Port Washington, the Port Washington Saukville Rotary Club, where he received the Paul Harris Fellow, the St. Vincent DePaul Society, Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Knights. He started the athletic program at St. Mary's Catholic School, serving as Athletic Director for many years. Charlie also served as a Parish Trustee, was a Eucharistic Minister at church and at Heritage Nursing Home, was on the finance committee, President of the St. Mary's School Board, volunteered as a teacher at the Adult Learning Center and Friendship Club, a Cub Scout leader and coached many, many youth teams. Charlie was a great man of faith and was awarded the Frederic Ozamam Award from the Milwaukee diocese. Charlie is survived by his wife of 64 years Ann of Port Washington, 12 children: Catherine (the late Robert) Schulz of South Bend, IN, Colleen (Richard) Annis of Ft. Wayne, IN, Michael (Mary) Ross of Port Washington, David (Lisa) Ross of Cedarburg, Timothy (Stacey) Ross of Mount Pleasant, John (Connie) Ross of Saukville, Gregory (Lois) Ross of Port Washington, Susan (David Pucilowski) Reynen of Port Washington, Thomas (Jo Ann) Ross, Mary (Chris) Karnitz, Daniel (Cheryl) Ross, and Julie (John) Celmo, all of Port Washington. He is further survived by 32 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, his granddaughter Katherine Annis, sons-in-law John Reynen and Robert Schulz, his sister Marilyn Reeder, his brother-in-law John Norton and sister-in-law Jeanne Bredar. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 21st at 6:30 PM, at St. John XXIII Parish - St. Peter of Alcantara Church, 1800 N. Wisconsin St., Port Washington. He will be laid to rest at St. Mary's Parish Cemetery in Port Washington. A visitation will take place at the CHURCH on Tuesday, January 21st from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. John XXIII Parish or School. The Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington is honored to serve the family. Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com