Thomas Bernard "Butch" Loethen

Thomas Bernard "Butch" Loethen, 64, of St. Thomas, died Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at St. Mary's Health Center after a courageous battle with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. He was born on April 12, 1947, in Jefferson City, a son of the late Thomas Henry and Mary Anne Boessen Loethen. Butch was a 1965 graduate of Helias High School where he played football and served as co-captain his senior year. He was united in marriage on July 29, 1978, in Folk, Mo., to Carolyn Catherine Volmert, who survives at the home. Butch spent most of his life tilling and tending to the Loethen family farms in St. Thomas. He was a member of the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church where he served on the church choir and parish council. He was awarded a Missouri State Fair Farm Family Award in 1981. Butch was active in the community, holding memberships and serving on boards of organizations including: Meta MFA Board of Directors, Osage River Flood Control Board, St. Thomas/Babbtown Mutual Insurance Company, Missouri Pork Producers, Cole County University of Missouri Extension Council, Osage League Baseball, ASA Umpire, St. Thomas Knights of Columbus (former Grand Knight), St. Jude Assembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus (charter member), and St. Thomas 4-H Club (gardening leader). In his spare time, Butch enjoyed gardening, exercising, St. Louis Cardinal baseball, University of Missouri softball, agriculture RFD TV, spending time with his children and grandchildren, and visiting with friends and family. Other survivors include three children: Thomas Joseph "TJ" (Colleen) Loethen, St. Thomas, Anne Marie Loethen, Prairie Village, Kan., Joanne Volmert Loethen, Ann Arbor, Mich.; two grandsons, Andrew Thomas Loethen and Alexander James Loethen; three siblings, Joe (Evelyn) Loethen, Jefferson City, Rosalyn Wieberg, St. Thomas, Mark (Kathy) Loethen, Linn; one sister-in-law, Marilyn Loethen, Hallsville; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Mary Loethen; brother, Jim Loethen; and a brother-in-law, Roman Wieberg. Mass of Christian Burial will be 12 noon, Monday, June 20, 2011, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church with the Rev. Mark A. Porterfield officiating. Burial will be in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be 2:30-6 p.m. Sunday at the church in St. Thomas with a rosary recited at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School, 14830 St. B, P.O. Box 211, St. Thomas, MO 65076; Helias Foundation, 1106 Swifts Highway, Jefferson City, MO 65109; Alpha-1 Association, 2937 SW 27 Ave., Suite 106, Miami, FL 33133; or to a charity of donor's choice. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to email condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.