Clarence "C.J." Ross

Clarence J. “C.J.” Ross died September 22, 2021, in Crystal Lake, Illinois after a fall while visiting family. Born April 7, 1942, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Clarence was the son of Clarence H. and Julia Tracy Ross who preceded him in death.

Clarence married Donna Mae Hess on November 5, 1966, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. They were married for 54 years.

Clarence graduated from Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 1960. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Education from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota in 1964. He completed a Master’s degree in Biology from St. Cloud State University in 1968.

After completing the ROTC program at St. John’s University, Clarence served in the United States Army from 1964 to 1972, rising to the rank of Captain. He served an 18 month tour of duty in Vietnam from 1965-1966, working on an Advance Party of a Medical Clearing Company at the Army EVAC Hospital at Long Binh. After leaving the Army in 1972, he became one of the founding partners in an educational software company, Courseware, headquartered in San Diego, California. When Courseware sold to Arthur Andersen Consulting in 1989, Clarence continued on as an Associate Partner and Management Consultant with Andersen for ten years, until his retirement in October 1999.

Clarence and his family moved to Poway, California in 1977, and lived there until the present.

He loved golf, history, politics and travel. He was a devoted grandfather to his 13 grandchildren. He loved playing cards with them, and never missed their performances, games and shows.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children and their partners, Conrad Ross and Victoria Radzak, of Moose Lake, Minnesota, Tracy Ross Wilson, and David Striegel of Rancho Bernardo, California, Colleen Ross Marshall, and Gregory Marshall, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, Andrea Ross Riley, and Joel Riley, of Poway, California, grandchildren Lauren, Maddison and Gavin Ross, Emily and Julia Wilson, Madeline and Jonathan (Jack) Striegel, Thomas, Jeffrey, Russell and Daniel Marshall, Patrick and Erica Riley, a brother, Patrick Ross, and sister-in-law, Janet (Gustafson) Ross, of St. Joseph, Minnesota.

A Funeral Mass was held in his honor at St Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Friday, October 1, 2021.

Another Funeral Mass will be held on January 4, 2022, at 11 am San Rafael Catholic Church, in Rancho Bernardo, California.

The family will have visitation at 10 am and a reception will follow after mass.