98, of Palos Heights, IL and formerly of Scales Mound, IL passed away at Palos Hospital on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. He was born on November 7, 1921 in Humboldt County, IA, the son of Roswell and Petra (nee Holden) Hanover.
After graduating high school in Gladbrook, IA in 1939, he began working as a bricklayer’s attendant. Ross enlisted in the Army October 13, 1942, served in Texas and Florida, and was honorably discharged on February 10, 1946 and returned to Gladbrook. He was subsequently hired by the Chicago Illinois Central Railroad as a depot agent and was transferred to Warren, IL.
In 1949, he met his future wife, Betty J. Collicutt at the Whalen Café in Warren, They were married on August 1, 1951. While living in Warren, they had three children, Jean, Van and Jon. In 1957, he was transferred to Scales Mound, IL, where they moved in 1958, and worked at the depot until 1970. He then took a job at John Deere in Dubuque, IA as a security guard and firefighter until retirement in 1983. He joined the Scales Mound Volunteer Fire Department in 1959 and became the assistant chief in 1964. He was elected chief in 1968 and remained in that position until May 1989. They lived in Scales Mound until 2006 when they moved to an independent senior living facility in Oak Park, IL to be closer to their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. After Betty’s death, Ross moved to Palos Heights, IL.
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Ross enjoyed genealogy, gardening and jigsaw puzzles. He was known for his ability to reengineer items to make them work again, often times using tape, paper clips and rubber bands.
He is survived by his children, Jean Fitzpatrick of Olney, IL, Van (Chris) Hanover of Glenview, IL and Jon (Sandy) Hanover of Green Valley, Az. He was the devoted grandfather of Maureen Fitzpatrick of Chicago, IL, Claire (Walter) Graves of Dundas, IL and Kelsey Fitzpatrick of Chicago, IL; and great-grandfather of Bobby, Patrick, Caroline, Bailey and Belle.
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He was proceeded in death by his brothers and their wives, Kenneth (Rosella), Curtis (Kathryn) and David (Mary) and sisters and their husbands Beverly (Leon) Pierce and Doris (Joe) White.
Memorial services and interment will be held at a future date and arrangements were entrusted to the Kerry Funeral Home & CremationCare Center in Palos Heights, IL. Memorials may be made to the Scales Mound Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 156, Scales Mound, IL 61075.
