Thomas J. Grothoff

Thomas J. Grothoff, 85, of Taos passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2024 surrounded by his family at Capitol Region Medical Center.

He was born in Jefferson City on August 13, 1938 to the late Anton and Augusta (Forck) Grothoff.  After graduating from Fatima High School, Tom embarked on several different careers.  He worked at Central Dairy before earning his insurance license.  He served as an agent for Miller's Mutual Insurance and then Wallstreet Insurance in Jefferson City.  Tom later purchased Taos Corner where he enjoyed spending time with his customers during his five years of ownership.  He was currently working part-time as a security guard for Vets Securing America.  Tom was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Taos where he sang in the adult choir.  He was also a member of the Cosmopolitan Club and helped establish the Tom Henke Celebrity Golf Tournament.

On August 3, 1963, Tom married Agnes “Aggie” Van Loo at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Wardsville.  They made their home in Taos raising three daughters, Kelly, Michelle, and Jennifer.  If you knew Tom, you knew he was a kind man with a big heart and wry sense of humor.   He enjoyed nothing more than sitting around the dinner table surrounded by conversation, laughter, and family.   The grandkids always looked forward staying with Grandpa at the trailer on the Osage River in Folk, where he took them fishing, working the trot line, making forts, and learning to drive the boat.   Tom loved doing “TokTiks” with his granddaughter and Pinochle with the family and friends including his special rules known as “TGP.”  Tom had two hobbies he was passionate about.  The first was making his homemade “Happy Juice” wine squeezed from grapes he handpicked with his friend Dominic Selva.  The second was his woodcarving skills making a variety of crafts including canes, crucifixes, nativity scenes and charcuterie boards to name a few.  If he wasn’t busy with those, you could find him and Aggie visiting Branson or the casinos.

Survivors include his wife, Aggie, three daughters, Kelly (Randy) Lueckenotte of Lohman, Michelle (Eddie Silvey) Mueller of Jefferson City, Jennifer (Darrell) Bruns of Taos, six grandchildren, Lauren (Andrew) Stiffelman, Dylan (Kaelin) Lueckenotte, Brandon (Shelby) Mueller, Wade Lueckenotte, Courtney (Christian) Fritsche and Lexie Bruns, six great grandchildren, Skye and Sage Stiffelman, Addison and Carter Lueckenotte, Hudson and Lincoln Mueller and two brothers, Wildred (Rita) Grothoff of Wardsville and Bill (Barb) Grothoff of Folk.  Tom was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Kenny Mueller, two brothers, Fred and Herman and four sisters, Dorothy Luebbering, Mary Jane Henke, Henrietta Kroll and Loretta Hilkemeyer.

Visitation will be Monday, April 29, 2024 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Taos from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with the Rosary being prayed at 3:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at church on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial begins at 10:00 a.m. Reverend Kelechi Uzuebbu will officiate. Burial will be in St. Francis Xavier Catholic Cemetery.

Trimble Funeral Homes-Jefferson City is assisting the family with arrangements.  trimblefunerals.com