David "Dave" Ross

The Mass of Christian Burial for Dave will be livestreamed at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 2nd. The livestream will begin approximately 10 minutes before Mass. To view the livestream, please click on this link: Ryan Funeral Home Madison - YouTube

David “Dave” Ross, age 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Dave was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, WI on July 30, 1935, to Esther and Marion Ross. He attended Madison West High School where he ran cross country, sang a lead part in the “Sweethearts” musical, and wrote the school’s Alma Mater song. His musical talents were recruited by the Madison Scouts Drum Corps, who taught him to play bugle and travel by bus, performing across the US in the summer. 

As a graduate of UW-Madison with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business, Dave earned his CPCU (master’s degree in risk management/property-casualty) in 1969. While attending school he was part of the US Army Reserve, and moved to Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs where he served as Personnel Dept Supervisor. While on assignment, he survived a small engine plane crash in Iowa. 

Dave returned to Madison and joined the Dominic Club, a church singles group, where he met the love of his life, Jane Robinson, and they married July 16, 1960, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. They enjoyed dancing, playing cards with friends, bowling, and were busy all the time. They were blessed with 3 children who are grateful he demonstrated constant love, kindness, and encouragement and lived out his strong Catholic values. In summers they drove around the US learning history and also loved their time up-north at Plum Lake and the Corner Store. His devotion to his wife during her years of sickness served as an outstanding example that his family has followed. Dave loved his family so much, including his three grandchildren, whom he adored.

Dave joined the General Casualty Insurance Company in 1959, dedicating himself to the insurance industry over a 37-year career, most recently managing the Personal Lines Underwriting Department. He served as Chairman of the Insurance Advisory Committee at MATC and was instrumental in shaping courses to advance insurance as a field of study. He received numerous awards for his dedication and leadership.

After retiring, Dave continued his outreach by developing a Pastoral Care program at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, where he began weekly visits to those hospitalized. Dave was always about relationships and warmly interacted with all those he met, feeling like each person was a friend. He thrived on connecting and spending time with everyone, regardless of their background, status, or any other factor. He appreciated people so much and measured the success of each day on how many people he talked to.  

In addition to connecting with people, Dave had a gift in his ability to play the piano. He bought his first piano at a young age by saving money from recycling scraps of metal during wartime.  He could hear a song and sit down and play it without sheet music. His talent was realized by the Kehl School of Dance where he played piano while teaching tap students their dance. Dave also played for sing-alongs, back porch concerts with friends and even at Monona’s historical Nathaniel W. Dean House and the famous Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado. His talent for playing and singing was truly amazing.    

Dave loved his backyard birds, cheering for Badger football (tickets for 50+ years), and serving as a Lector, Songleader, and volunteer assistant to Fr. Mike Burke at St. Maria Goretti Church.  

Dave is survived by his brother Bob (Janet) Ross of Madison; sister Nancy (Allan) Baars of Cleveland, WI; son Jim (Chandra) Ross of Dallas, TX; daughters Mary (Mark) Bohm of Madison, and Dr. Suzy Ross of Santa Cruz, CA; along with three grandchildren: Scott Bohm, Carolyn Bohm and Jonathan Ross.  

Dave was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years Jane (Robinson) and his parents, Marion and Esther (Christenson) Ross.   

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026, at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 5313 Flad Avenue.  Visitation will be held from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at the Ryan Funeral Service – Legacy Center, 6728 Mader Drive, with a Rosary Service beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Burial will be at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

The family deeply thanks his caregivers, especially Pauline Konitzer (Devoted Care, LLC), Dorothy (Dot) Crawford-Fischer, Savannah Wallace FNP-C, Carly Dassow FNP-C and the wonderful friends and staff at Four Winds Manor, Verona, WI. 

Memorials can be made to the pastoral care programs at St. Maria Goretti or St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Churches in Madison, WI.