Thelma Grothaus

Thelma Theresa Grothaus, 82, of Lake Waukomis, Mo., passed away Monday, November 7, 2011, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Thelma was born June 16, 1929, in St. Louis, Mo., where she resided until 1962. She was a 1947 graduate of St. Anthony High School, St. Louis. Thelma moved from St. Louis to Jefferson City, Mo., in 1962, where she resided until moving to Kansas City in 1987. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and their St. Joseph Women's Group, and was a volunteer at St. Luke's Northland Hospital. Thelma was an avid gardener, scrapbooker and reader. She loved her morning coffee, crossword puzzles and swimming in the lake. But most of all she loved her kids and grandkids; they enjoyed her limericks and riddles and everyone enjoyed her smile and wit. Survivors include her children, Leo H. Grothaus Jr. and wife Sherri, Paul G. Grothaus and wife Ann Cui, David M. Grothaus and wife Pamela, Amy Grothaus Green and husband Glenn (Paige), Theresa Kay Edwards and husband Jim, and Mark A. Grothaus and wife Marjorie; brother, Joseph Rickert; sisters, Elsie Calabrese and Rosemary Peters; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, William and Elizabeth Rickert; siblings, Eleanor and Norbert Rickert, Tom Rickert, Albert Rickert, William Rickert and Frank Rickert. She was also preceded in death by two granddaughters, Claire and Sophie Edwards; and the father of her children and husband of 36 years, Leo H. Grothaus. Funeral Mass will be 3:00 p.m., Friday, November 11, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 919 NE 96th St, Kansas City, Mo., where a rosary will be prayed at 2:00 p.m. Following Mass there will be a reception immediately following in the parish hall. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 12, at Resurrection Cemetery, Kansas City, Mo. Contributions are suggested to Holy Family Catholic Church Memorial Fund. mcgilleyantiochchapel.com