Obituary of Ross Jury

Ross Harlo Jury, age 68, of Minneapolis, MN passed away on February 10th, 2019.  He was preceded in death by his parents Emerson and Virginia and brother Ronald.  He is survived by his son Jason (Lora) Jury and daughter Linde Sayen, grandchildren Padah Sayen and Leo Jury, sister Nancy (Daryl) Lucke, brothers Philip (Linda) Jury and David (Lois) Jury, and numerous other loving relatives.

Ross was born in Minneapolis on Dec. 1, 1950, and lived in St. Paul until the Jury family moved to Appleton WI in 1951.  Ross’s father Emerson was a minister who started various church congregations in several different places all over the Midwest. To support this ministry, the Jury family moved to Muskegon MI in 1953, followed by Benton Harbor MI in 1954, Omaha NE in 1955, and Hortonville WI in 1959. 

Finally the family settled for several years in Flin Flon Manitoba (1960 - 1965).  In 6th grade, Ross got an electric guitar as a gift from his father; this gift would be put to very good use over the years as Ross started a youth rock band in Flin Flon.  Ross used his paper route and other odd jobs to help pay for a substantial record collection including Beatles and Rolling Stones.  Ross and his brother Phil were active members of Luther League and made several trips to conferences and conventions in different places in Canada and the U.S. 

The Jury family then moved to Houghton MI, where Ross lived until 1973. Ross graduated from Houghton High School in 1969.  He married Jill Stevens in Sept. 1970 after dating during high school.  He attended Suomi College in Hancock, MI for a year.  Then he attended Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI and graduated with an accounting degree in 1973.  During high school Ross and others formed a rock band, “Out of the Blue,” that played in various places in Northern Michigan including The Library bar in Houghton, MI.

Ross and Jill moved around a fair amount between 1973 and 1978.  In 1975 while living in Schaumburg, IL, Ross and Jill had their first child, Jason.  During this time Ross worked as a comptroller for National Can, and his family moved around a few times until they settled in MN in 1976.  In 1977 while living in St. Paul, Ross and Jill had their second child, Linde.  Ross and his family moved to Forest Lake, MN in 1978.  At that time Ross was working with his father in a home construction business.

Ross and Jill were divorced in 1983.  Ross stayed in the Forest Lake area, living in various apartments before moving into the house on 910 5th St. in 1987.  During these years he saw his kids regularly--happily and proudly attending their many band and sporting events in addition to their weekend visits.  Ross and his kids also enjoyed playing tennis, video games and pinball at different pizza places, and playing board games including chess and backgammon.  He delighted in taking his kids to an occasional rock concert or a Minnesota Twins game (including Game 7 of 1991 W.S.).  He was very interested in technology (getting a personal computer in 1982) and also loved science fiction such as Twilight Zone, Star Trek, and Star Wars.  Ross was also very devoted to the other members of the family, participating in Jury family reunions over the years in WI, MN, and MI and spending Christmases in AZ visiting his parents and other family.  He was always very happy to play cards, especially Sheepshead. 

Ross continued to work as an accountant for different companies including Kemps and also started up a car repair hobby/business.  Ross eventually moved to Minneapolis in 2009.  He lived in various locations until he took over his mom’s residence at Trinity Apartments when she moved out in 2016.  During this time Ross continued his hobby of repairing cars along with spending time with his grandkids who lived in the area.

A funeral service will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (2730 East 31^st Street in Minneapolis) on Thursday, June 13th, 2019, at 11:30 am with lunch and sharing time to follow in the community room. A brief burial service at the grave site will be at 2:30 pm at Riverside Cemetery in Appleton, WI on Friday June 14th with a light supper and sharing time afterward at the Courtyard by Marriott Appleton Riverfront (101 South Riverheath Way in Appleton).