Edwards, CO - Richard Bross, of Edwards, CO, passed away on May 10, 2026 at 74 years old while on a biking adventure with friends in Portugal.

Richard Alan Bross, beloved husband, father, pap-pap, brother, and friend, was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Theron "Butch" L. and Irene Bross (née Hammers) on August 25, 1951.

Rick is survived by his wife Deann Thoms, his daughters Elsa Bross and Allison Bross, and their mother, Suzanne Bross, his grandchildren, Oliver, Zora, Solomon, and Micah, his wife Deann's children and spouses, Matt and Katya Magee, Lindsey and Jeremy Womack, and Luke Thoms, and her grandchildren Jillian, Jocelyn, Jack, James, Augustine, and Zina, his sister and brother-in-law, Patti and Mark Martyak, his sister-in-law Patty Bross, and his sons-in-law Javad Keyhani and Rahsaan White.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Butch and Irene Bross, his brother, David Bross, and his beloved dogs, Laddie and Maya.

Rick graduated from Johnstown High School in 1969. He went on to the University of Pittsburgh in Johnstown, graduating magna cum laude in 1974 with a BA in economics. Because of Rick's generous contributions to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, including establishing the Bross Family Scholarship, he received a place of distinction in the 1927 Cornerstone Society. He was also an honorary speaker at 2017 Commencement, and received the President's Medal of Distinctive Excellence.

Rick derived much pride from his accomplished work with Hormel Foods. Directly after college, Rick began his career at Hormel Foods in Grocery Products sales in the Pittsburgh, Pa, area. In 1981, his success with Hormel led him to the Corporate Office in Austin, Minn. In 2001, he became group vice president of Hormel Foods and president of Hormel Foods International Corporation (HFIC), the position he held until his retirement in December, 2012.

Rick believed one found the most joy in life through experiences, which he pursued persistently, especially with his grandkids. He and Micah feasted on fish they caught in Costa Rica. On a road trip home with Solomon, they spontaneously explored the Black Hills. He admired Zora's persistence when he accidentally took her down a steep ski run in Beaver Creek, Colo. At a lake cabin in Northern Minnesota, he and Oliver jumped around, bare-chested and gleeful, in a pelting cold rain. Deann's family enjoyed many activities with Rick, from skiing and hiking, to doing puzzles and celebrating the holidays.

Rick had countless worldly adventures, as president of Hormel Foods International and with his family and friends. From China to France, from Patagonia to South Africa, he cherished having so many rich experiences in amazing places with people he cared for.

Despite traveling the world, he was most awestruck by the beauty and magnificence of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. This is where he spent most of his time after retirement, skiing, Jeeping, biking, riding his Harley, and golfing at the Country Club of the Rockies. At the same time, he loved the tranquility of Gull Lake in Northern Minnesota, where the family had a cabin for several years.

He danced a mean funky chicken. He was a devoted Steelers fan. One of his dreams was that his daughters have rooms of their own; he far surpassed this goal.

Rick's life was full of incredible accomplishments and experiences. This befits his favorite quote, that he loved reciting, "Jump higher, worlds await, getting there is all the fun." Rick worked to live this, up to his final moments.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to one Rick's favored causes: B the Difference (https://donate.bthedifference.org/), Roundup River Ranch (https://roundupriverranch.org/support-us/ways-to-give/donate/), or the Bross Family Scholarship (www.upj.pitt.edu/give)