David von Gauss, 60, of Walnut, died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012 at Mercy St. John’s in Joplin, Mo. He had been in declining health for several years.

He was born Dec. 13, 1951 in New Orleans, La., to David W. Gauss and Patricia Ann Sobczynski Gauss.

He spent his childhood in New Orleans and later in Chicago where he graduated from Angel Guardian High School. He then attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in plant pathology. He undertook graduate studies at the University of Minnesota while working for Bachmann’s Wholesale Nursery in Minneapolis.

He also conducted plant studies for the university in South America and Alaska. He owned and operated Baldwin Growers in Baldwin City and managed greenhouse operations in Magnolia, Ark., and Ponchatoula, La.

After moving to Walnut, he was employed by Industrial Crating in St. Paul in charge of special projects.

In 1987, while volunteering as an instructor at UMKC’s Communiversity in Kansas City, he met and married Kristine Gilbertson.

She survives, of the home. Additional survivors include a brother, Raymond Gauss of San Diego, Calif., and two sisters, Kathleen Gauss of Mound, Minn., and Jacquelynn Pickens of Shoreview, Minn.

Cremation has taken place and private services will be held at a later date.

David’s lifelong love of learning suggests memorials to the Walnut Public Library, P.O. Box 18, Walnut, KS 66780.¬†