Victor Herbert Moss

Victor Herbert Moss, 81, of Ames, Iowa passed away January 9, 2026 surrounded by his loving family.

Vic was born March 7, 1944, to Alta and James Moss in Webb City, Missouri. He lived most of his childhood in Oelwein, Iowa. His favorite memories of childhood were exploring the outdoors with his brother Jim and neighborhood friends. He began a lifetime of fixing anything broken by repairing a toaster for his mom. He learned to fix bicycles when a neighbor fixed his bike for whatever money was in his pocket. Clever Vic began emptying his pockets before visiting that neighbor, but he paid it forward by fixing children’s bicycles for all of his adult life.

After graduating from Oelwein High School in 1962, Vic attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. He loved Ames and made the town his home for the rest of his life. Being drafted into the Army interrupted his studies, but he completed his BS in Entomology in 1971, after returning from Vietnam. He married Marion Walter while at ISU, and their child, BJ Moss, was born at Fort Hood in Texas. He was sent to Vietnam, leaving behind his newborn son, which was the hardest part of being deployed.

After finishing his degree upon returning from Vietnam, Vic began his career in Human Services. After separating from BJ’s mother, Vic raised his son as a single dad. He began working as a social worker for Story County, riding around the county on his motorcycle to help people sign up for old age assistance, food stamps, and later was one of the first two child abuse investigators in Iowa. Though Vic considered his childhood idyllic, Vic grew up impoverished and his strong desire to help those in need began there. His next job was as a counselor at the residential program for children at Beloit in Ames. He was a favorite of the children and worked to improve their lives. He met his future wife, Cheryl Gabbert at Beloit. Together they took every opportunity to get the children off campus and into parks and natural areas. They already knew they loved children when they eloped on October 5, 1987 and Vic became the executive director of the Emergency Residence Project that same month. Vic spent nearly 29 years at the shelter doing whatever was needed, including fund raising, repairs, checking people in, writing grants and advising people on where to get help. He went from never being in the public eye to becoming a well known resource in Ames. He won many awards, but turned every occasion honoring him into a chance to advocate for those in need. He will be missed by thousands of people he helped, and by the community he humbly served.

Vic and Cheryl’s two sons, Alan and Kevin grew up with the shelter as a second home. All three of Vic’s sons grew up on an acreage outside of Ames with a loving father who introduced them to the love of nature, science and math.

Vic is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Cheryl Moss; sons, BJ (Kristen) Moss, Alan Moss and Kevin Moss; his brother, Jim Moss; his sisters, Twyla Schrodemier, Goldi Myers and Marilou Moss and many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind many people who consider him their honorary father or grandfather.

No services are planned at this time, but please consider celebrating his life with a gift to a charity that works for social justice or alleviates human or animal suffering. He appreciated the work of Good Neighbor in Ames gnea.org/giving/