Mary J. (Wiesweg) Gross

Mary Josephine Wiesweg Gross passed away peacefully on May 3, 2026, surrounded by her family after a long and courageous fight with cancer. She was born on August 9, 1945, in St. Paul. 

Mary and her two sisters attended Our Lady of Peace High School. Mary graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. She also earned an MS in Soil Science. 

During her career as a Chemist and Environmental Scientist, Mary worked for the U.S. Forest Service and the Metropolitan Council, where she retired from in 2016. 

Mary served as the chair of a Civil Rights Action Committee, which secured an allocation of $50,000 to advance the role of women and minorities in environmental scientific research. 

She received the Civil Servant of the Year Award, presented by the Twin Cities Federal Executive Board, for extraordinary service to the community and government. 

Whether in work, education, or volunteering, Mary always gave her full effort. She was a planner, organized, a good communicator, and, most of all, warmhearted and compassionate. She will be missed by all. 

She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Gross and Barbara King; her sister, Bonnie (John); her grandchildren, Sarah King and Connor King; and her nieces, Jen Werth and Amy Bellows. 

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, from 4–7 p.m. at O’Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home 575 Snelling Ave S, St. Paul.

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