Donald Gene Gross, 57, of Lincoln passed away January 4, 2022.
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Monday (1-10-22) Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall, 241 Victory Lane.
Memorials to the family for future designation.
Don Gross, a longtime Lincoln fire investigator and bomb technician who had served as a military helicopter pilot for more than two decades, died at his home early Tuesday morning. He was 57.
Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vigil confirmed Gross' death to the Journal Star on Wednesday. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death has been requested, though Vigil said Gross had been experiencing chest pains for several days prior to his death.
Still, Gross' death was sudden and unexpected to those who worked alongside him.
"We walked out that night together from work at 4:30, you know?" said Bill Moody, Lincoln's chief fire inspector, who had worked with Gross for nearly 25 years. "Walked down the stairs, said 'See you tomorrow.' Everything was fine. It's just crazy.
"He was a special guy," Moody added.
Gross began his career with the city as a firefighter in 1991 before being promoted to fire apparatus operator in 1995 and then to fire inspector two years later. Terry Zwiebel, a fire marshal in Norfolk who served alongside Gross in the Nebraska chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, knew him for decades.
"He was always an upbeat guy, always had a joke," Zwiebel said. "Willing to help wherever he could, whenever he could. He was a giving sort of guy that just did what needed to be done."
Starting in 1997, Gross began inspecting countless fires in Lincoln, examining flame patterns in the aftermath of blazes to determine the origin. In the decades since, he'd become one of the best fire inspectors Moody had ever met, he said — both in Nebraska and nationally.
"He was laser focused on his job," Moody said. "He understood the science of fire, and that was what made him such a good fire investigator."
Moody said Gross, who taught community college courses in the science of fire inspecting, was always eager to share his knowledge with trainees. When a new inspector was hired, Moody said, the department could depend on Gross to show them the ropes.
"He'd show up," Moody said. "At 3:30 (a.m.) in the middle of winter on a cold-ass night, you know? He'd be there."
Through their decades of work together, Moody recalled the devastating fires and explosions they'd responded to: destroyed houses, apartments, a grocery store.
"All the calls and all the tragedies we've seen and worked," Moody said. "It creates a bond."
Gross, too, was a member of a local team that responds to 40 to 50 bomb calls a year in a profession he described in 2016 as ever-evolving.
"Bomb techs are like any other profession — there's a progression in your skills with the more time you do it," he said then.
It was in that role where Gross grew busier — and louder in his calls for public safety — each July, as he investigated the exchange and setting-off of homemade fireworks, which he noted weren't fireworks at all, but "explosive devices."
"You and the rest of society around you are going to be safer for it," he said in 2016, advocating for local residents to avoid modifying any commercially sold fireworks, embodying what Zwiebel later described as Gross' commitment to improving his community.
When he heard the news of Gross' death by phone on Tuesday, Zwiebel said the call left a void.
"I really had a hard time functioning the rest of the day," he said.
As news of Gross' death reverberated through Nebraska and the statewide organization he had helped, dozens of first responders and friends of Gross chimed in on social media, posting tributes and prayers, with many referring to Gross as their brother.
Gross was a Black Hawk pilot for 21 years, Moody said, serving at least four military tours overseas.
Services for Gross will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall, 241 Victory Lane. A visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 O St.
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Monday (1-10-22) Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall, 241 Victory Lane.
Memorials to the family for future designation.
Don Gross, a longtime Lincoln fire investigator and bomb technician who had served as a military helicopter pilot for more than two decades, died at his home early Tuesday morning. He was 57.
Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vigil confirmed Gross' death to the Journal Star on Wednesday. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death has been requested, though Vigil said Gross had been experiencing chest pains for several days prior to his death.
Still, Gross' death was sudden and unexpected to those who worked alongside him.
"We walked out that night together from work at 4:30, you know?" said Bill Moody, Lincoln's chief fire inspector, who had worked with Gross for nearly 25 years. "Walked down the stairs, said 'See you tomorrow.' Everything was fine. It's just crazy.
"He was a special guy," Moody added.
Gross began his career with the city as a firefighter in 1991 before being promoted to fire apparatus operator in 1995 and then to fire inspector two years later. Terry Zwiebel, a fire marshal in Norfolk who served alongside Gross in the Nebraska chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, knew him for decades.
"He was always an upbeat guy, always had a joke," Zwiebel said. "Willing to help wherever he could, whenever he could. He was a giving sort of guy that just did what needed to be done."
Starting in 1997, Gross began inspecting countless fires in Lincoln, examining flame patterns in the aftermath of blazes to determine the origin. In the decades since, he'd become one of the best fire inspectors Moody had ever met, he said — both in Nebraska and nationally.
"He was laser focused on his job," Moody said. "He understood the science of fire, and that was what made him such a good fire investigator."
Moody said Gross, who taught community college courses in the science of fire inspecting, was always eager to share his knowledge with trainees. When a new inspector was hired, Moody said, the department could depend on Gross to show them the ropes.
"He'd show up," Moody said. "At 3:30 (a.m.) in the middle of winter on a cold-ass night, you know? He'd be there."
Through their decades of work together, Moody recalled the devastating fires and explosions they'd responded to: destroyed houses, apartments, a grocery store.
"All the calls and all the tragedies we've seen and worked," Moody said. "It creates a bond."
Gross, too, was a member of a local team that responds to 40 to 50 bomb calls a year in a profession he described in 2016 as ever-evolving.
"Bomb techs are like any other profession — there's a progression in your skills with the more time you do it," he said then.
It was in that role where Gross grew busier — and louder in his calls for public safety — each July, as he investigated the exchange and setting-off of homemade fireworks, which he noted weren't fireworks at all, but "explosive devices."
"You and the rest of society around you are going to be safer for it," he said in 2016, advocating for local residents to avoid modifying any commercially sold fireworks, embodying what Zwiebel later described as Gross' commitment to improving his community.
When he heard the news of Gross' death by phone on Tuesday, Zwiebel said the call left a void.
"I really had a hard time functioning the rest of the day," he said.
As news of Gross' death reverberated through Nebraska and the statewide organization he had helped, dozens of first responders and friends of Gross chimed in on social media, posting tributes and prayers, with many referring to Gross as their brother.
Gross was a Black Hawk pilot for 21 years, Moody said, serving at least four military tours overseas.
Services for Gross will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall, 241 Victory Lane. A visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 O St.
Donald Gene Gross, 57, of Lincoln passed away January 4, 2022.
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Monday (1-10-22) Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall, 241 Victory Lane.
Memorials to the family for future designation.
Don Gross, a longtime Lincoln fire investigator and bomb technician who had served as a military helicopter pilot for more than two decades, died at his home early Tuesday morning. He was 57.
Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vigil confirmed Gross' death to the Journal Star on Wednesday. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death has been requested, though Vigil said Gross had been experiencing chest pains for several days prior to his death.
Still, Gross' death was sudden and unexpected to those who worked alongside him.
"We walked out that night together from work at 4:30, you know?" said Bill Moody, Lincoln's chief fire inspector, who had worked with Gross for nearly 25 years. "Walked down the stairs, said 'See you tomorrow.' Everything was fine. It's just crazy.
"He was a special guy," Moody added.
Gross began his career with the city as a firefighter in 1991 before being promoted to fire apparatus operator in 1995 and then to fire inspector two years later. Terry Zwiebel, a fire marshal in Norfolk who served alongside Gross in the Nebraska chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, knew him for decades.
"He was always an upbeat guy, always had a joke," Zwiebel said. "Willing to help wherever he could, whenever he could. He was a giving sort of guy that just did what needed to be done."
Starting in 1997, Gross began inspecting countless fires in Lincoln, examining flame patterns in the aftermath of blazes to determine the origin. In the decades since, he'd become one of the best fire inspectors Moody had ever met, he said — both in Nebraska and nationally.
"He was laser focused on his job," Moody said. "He understood the science of fire, and that was what made him such a good fire investigator."
Moody said Gross, who taught community college courses in the science of fire inspecting, was always eager to share his knowledge with trainees. When a new inspector was hired, Moody said, the department could depend on Gross to show them the ropes.
"He'd show up," Moody said. "At 3:30 (a.m.) in the middle of winter on a cold-ass night, you know? He'd be there."
Through their decades of work together, Moody recalled the devastating fires and explosions they'd responded to: destroyed houses, apartments, a grocery store.
"All the calls and all the tragedies we've seen and worked," Moody said. "It creates a bond."
Gross, too, was a member of a local team that responds to 40 to 50 bomb calls a year in a profession he described in 2016 as ever-evolving.
"Bomb techs are like any other profession — there's a progression in your skills with the more time you do it," he said then.
It was in that role where Gross grew busier — and louder in his calls for public safety — each July, as he investigated the exchange and setting-off of homemade fireworks, which he noted weren't fireworks at all, but "explosive devices."
"You and the rest of society around you are going to be safer for it," he said in 2016, advocating for local residents to avoid modifying any commercially sold fireworks, embodying what Zwiebel later described as Gross' commitment to improving his community.
When he heard the news of Gross' death by phone on Tuesday, Zwiebel said the call left a void.
"I really had a hard time functioning the rest of the day," he said.
As news of Gross' death reverberated through Nebraska and the statewide organization he had helped, dozens of first responders and friends of Gross chimed in on social media, posting tributes and prayers, with many referring to Gross as their brother.
Gross was a Black Hawk pilot for 21 years, Moody said, serving at least four military tours overseas.
Services for Gross will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall, 241 Victory Lane. A visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 O St.
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. Monday (1-10-22) Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall, 241 Victory Lane.
Memorials to the family for future designation.
Don Gross, a longtime Lincoln fire investigator and bomb technician who had served as a military helicopter pilot for more than two decades, died at his home early Tuesday morning. He was 57.
Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vigil confirmed Gross' death to the Journal Star on Wednesday. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of his death has been requested, though Vigil said Gross had been experiencing chest pains for several days prior to his death.
Still, Gross' death was sudden and unexpected to those who worked alongside him.
"We walked out that night together from work at 4:30, you know?" said Bill Moody, Lincoln's chief fire inspector, who had worked with Gross for nearly 25 years. "Walked down the stairs, said 'See you tomorrow.' Everything was fine. It's just crazy.
"He was a special guy," Moody added.
Gross began his career with the city as a firefighter in 1991 before being promoted to fire apparatus operator in 1995 and then to fire inspector two years later. Terry Zwiebel, a fire marshal in Norfolk who served alongside Gross in the Nebraska chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators, knew him for decades.
"He was always an upbeat guy, always had a joke," Zwiebel said. "Willing to help wherever he could, whenever he could. He was a giving sort of guy that just did what needed to be done."
Starting in 1997, Gross began inspecting countless fires in Lincoln, examining flame patterns in the aftermath of blazes to determine the origin. In the decades since, he'd become one of the best fire inspectors Moody had ever met, he said — both in Nebraska and nationally.
"He was laser focused on his job," Moody said. "He understood the science of fire, and that was what made him such a good fire investigator."
Moody said Gross, who taught community college courses in the science of fire inspecting, was always eager to share his knowledge with trainees. When a new inspector was hired, Moody said, the department could depend on Gross to show them the ropes.
"He'd show up," Moody said. "At 3:30 (a.m.) in the middle of winter on a cold-ass night, you know? He'd be there."
Through their decades of work together, Moody recalled the devastating fires and explosions they'd responded to: destroyed houses, apartments, a grocery store.
"All the calls and all the tragedies we've seen and worked," Moody said. "It creates a bond."
Gross, too, was a member of a local team that responds to 40 to 50 bomb calls a year in a profession he described in 2016 as ever-evolving.
"Bomb techs are like any other profession — there's a progression in your skills with the more time you do it," he said then.
It was in that role where Gross grew busier — and louder in his calls for public safety — each July, as he investigated the exchange and setting-off of homemade fireworks, which he noted weren't fireworks at all, but "explosive devices."
"You and the rest of society around you are going to be safer for it," he said in 2016, advocating for local residents to avoid modifying any commercially sold fireworks, embodying what Zwiebel later described as Gross' commitment to improving his community.
When he heard the news of Gross' death by phone on Tuesday, Zwiebel said the call left a void.
"I really had a hard time functioning the rest of the day," he said.
As news of Gross' death reverberated through Nebraska and the statewide organization he had helped, dozens of first responders and friends of Gross chimed in on social media, posting tributes and prayers, with many referring to Gross as their brother.
Gross was a Black Hawk pilot for 21 years, Moody said, serving at least four military tours overseas.
Services for Gross will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the Lincoln Firefighters Reception Hall, 241 Victory Lane. A visitation is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Roper and Sons Midtown Chapel, 4300 O St.
