Thomas William Grove

Thomas W. Grove age 73, of Dixon, died at KSB Hospital on Saturday, August 30, 2014. He was born on November 16, 1940 in Dixon to Murrie E. and Anna Lucile (Mayes) Grove. He graduated from St. Mary Grade School and Dixon High School. During his high school football career, he was named Honorable Mention All-State Football Team in 1957. He attended Northern Illinois University where he played football for two years. Tom served in the National Guard for six years. He was employed by IDOT and worked on the bridge crew. He was employed by Commonwealth Edison for 27 years in Substation Construction retiring in 1995. He was a past president and member of the Illinois Gamebreeders Association and participated in the gamecock tradition that extended back in his family for over a hundred years. In most recent years, Tom developed an interest in homing pigeons. He flew them in competition and belonged to the Rock River Pigeon Club. He was a lifelong Notre Dame Football fan and never missed a Saturday afternoon in the fall watching the Irish win their football games. An item on his bucket list was to visit Ireland. A few years ago, he, Gracie and Bridget checked off that item and had a memorable Irish trip. He was a member of St. Patrick Church in Dixon. Tom married Gracie Wolf at St. Patrick Church in Dixon, on July 20, 1968. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Neil P. Grove. Survivors include his wife and daughter Bridget Grove of Dixon, 2 brothers Murrie (Christina) Grove of Port Charlotte, FL and Mark (Jill) Grove of Belvidere. and nieces and nephews: Kim, Rachel, Patrick, Victoria, Nathan and Nicholas Grove. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 5, 2014, from 5-7 pm in Jones Funeral Home in Dixon, IL with scripture reading at 7 pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday September 6, 2014 beginning with a 10:00 am Prayer service in Jones Funeral Home in Dixon, followed by a 10:30 am Mass of Christian Burial in St. Patrick Church in Dixon with the Rev Bernard Sehr officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon. A memorial has been established to St. Mary School and St. Patrick Church.

Thomas William Grove

November 16, 1940 - August 30, 2014