Obituary: Iris Mary Cross

Oct. 17, 1932 – Oct. 4, 2019 

Iris Mary Cross, 86, of Sturgeon Bay died surrounded by her family at the Door County Medical Center – Skilled Nursing Facility.

She was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Robert Mark and Eleanor Florence (Stevens) Lees. Iris went to Kenosha as a child and attended local schools before graduating from Mary D. Bradford High School.

In 1953, she was united in marriage to Richard Cross. He died in 2005.

In her younger years, Iris was an apartment-complex manager and worked at various restaurants and shops along the way. Everyone Iris met became her friend. She extended her loving hospitality to everyone, young and old. Her generosity and help touched many, many lives here in Wisconsin, as well as in her beloved winter home in Arizona.

She was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church (now Stella Maris Parish in Jacksonport). Iris served as the president of the Whittier School PTA and the Catholic Jr. League in Kenosha. She also was a member of the Women’s Club in Brillion and Door County.

She is survived by her four sons, Timothy (Lauren Vincent), Jeffrey (Sharon Salm), Daniel (Diane Nies) and Jonathan (Tiffany Klatt) Cross; foster daughter, Sandra (Lee) Stephens; foster son-in-law, Tim Byler; eight grandchildren, Aaron (Lisa) Cross, Kate (Adam) Braatz, Jesse Cross, Ryan Cross, Neal (Melissa) Cross, Calsey (Josh) Miller, Alexis Cross, and Fayth Cross; five great-grandchildren; brother, Thomas (Lydia) Lees; and special friend, Marie (Rusty) Sime.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her foster daughter, Janet Byler, and brother, Robert Lees.

A memorial mass of Christian burial to honor Iris’s life will be held Monday, Oct. 14, 11 am, at Stella Maris Parish in Jacksonport. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in St. James Cemetery in Kenosha.

Visitation will precede the mass, 9-10:50 am, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cross family to be distributed to Iris’s charities of choice.

The Cross family extends a heartfelt thank-you to Dr. Richard Hogan and the staff at the Door County Medical Center – Skilled Nursing Facility for their loving care shown to Iris. Also, a special thank-you to Stella Maris Parish for its generosity and compassion during this time.

Huehns Funeral Home and Door County Crematory in Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Cross family. Expressions of sympathy, memories and photos of Iris can be shared through her tribute page at huehnsfuneralhome.com.