The Rev. John William Groner
January 3, 1945 ~ January 6, 2023
The Rev. John William Groner, 78, of Folk Missouri, retired Priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City, passed away peacefully Friday, January 6, 2023, in Westphalia, Missouri after battling cancer.
Father John W. Groner was born on January 3, 1945, in Jefferson City, Missouri, the son of the late John H. and Lydia H. (Westerman) Groner.
He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Bernard and Donna Groner; nine nieces and nephews, Cheryl (Jerry) Flickinger, Maria Groner (Phillip) Watson, Dr. Alice Groner, Father Eric M. Groner, SVD, a priest of the Society of the Divine Word, Laurie Groner Honan, Dr. Jennifer Groner, Yvonne Groner Nelli, Kurt P. Groner, Amanda Groner (Andrew) Avenoso; fifteen grandnieces and grandnephews; one great-grandnephew; and his brother priests.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lydia, three brothers, Richard Groner, Henry Groner and Robert Groner; his sister-in-law Joann Groner; his uncle, Monsignor Bernard S. Groner, who also served in the Diocese of Jefferson City, and his long-term caregiver Jewel Tawney.
Father Groner attended Immaculate Conception School in Jefferson City from 1951-1959 and Helias High School in Jefferson City from 1959-1961. He then entered St. Thomas Aquinas Preparatory Seminary in Hannibal from 1961-1963 and Immaculate Conception Seminary College in Conception, Missouri from 1963-1971. Father Groner received a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a minor in Social Studies in 1967 and received his Master’s degree in 1971. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of Jesus Christ on Pentecost Sunday, May 30, 1971, by Most Reverend Michael F. McAuliffe at Immaculate Conception Church in Jefferson City.
His pastoral assignments included: Associate Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Columbia, July 1, 1971-May 24, 1974; Associate Pastor, San Juan Bautista, Marcona, Peru, 1974-1977; Temporary Administrator, Bourbon and Leasburg parishes, May-July 15, 1978; Pastor, Holy Rosary Church, Monroe City and St. John, Hunnewell, July 15, 1978-June 30, 1984; Administrator, St. Stephen Church, Indian Creek, January 3, 1983-June 30, 1984; Director of Peru Mission Office and Director of the Propagation of the Faith, January 1, 1983-January 16, 1986; Pastor, Holy Family Church, Freeburg, January 1986-July 15, 1993; Pastor, Holy Family Church, Hannibal, July 15, 1993-July 1, 1998; Pastor, St. Brendan Church, Mexico, July 1, 1998-June 30, 2000; Pastor, St. Robert Bellarmine Church, St. Robert and St. Jude Church, Richland, June 30, 2000-2021; Pastor, St. Theresa Church, Dixon and St. Cornelius Church, Crocker, July 23, 2013-July 1, 2014; and Canonical Pastor, St. Theresa Church, Dixon and St. Cornelius Church, Crocker, July 1, 2014-July 1, 2015.
Other positions held by Father Groner include: Co-Director of Mission Office, January 16, 1986-July 1, 1991; Consultant to the Bishop on Mission Affairs, July 1, 1991–July 15, 1993; Mission Committee, April 5, 2010-2022; College of Consultors, 1983-1998; Priests’ Personnel Board, 1992-1998; Priests’ Senate, 1984-1998; Presbyteral Council, Oct 1, 2000-Oct 1, 2004 and Oct 1, 2011-Oct 1, 2013; Dean, Hannibal Deanery, 1981-1983; and he assisted with Spanish Masses at Holy Cross Church, Cuba, July 1, 2010-2022.
Father Groner was devoted to his vocation. He took great joy in being a part of his parishioners' lives and lived his calling in the hours and minutes he spent with them. He celebrated his 25th Anniversary of Holy Priesthood on May 26, 1996, at Holy Family Church in Hannibal and his 50th Anniversary of Holy Priesthood at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in St. Robert on Sunday, June 27, 2021. In his retirement he continued to serve the diocese until his health no longer permitted.
To his family, Father Groner was known as Johnny, Beloved Son, Little Brother, Favorite Uncle. To his friends he was John, generous, gruff, and golden. Johnny was the one who completed family gatherings and friend celebrations, filling the room with his booming voice and laughter, bearing the gifts of his labor: the bread he baked, the wine he made.
John was an adventurous person of broad interests which he pursued with gusto. He loved to hunt and fish, hosting deer camps and organizing trout fishing getaways. He traveled North America, South America and Europe with family and friends. He hiked the Appalachian Trail, skied the backcountry of the Rocky Mountains, and climbed the ruins of Machu Picchu with his mother on her 70th birthday. He loved to challenge himself to learn new skills and never did so half-heartedly. He decided to learn race walking and then trained for and completed a 26 mile marathon. He decided to make pizza and so built a pizza oven. He decided to make wine and so planted a vineyard.
John remained busy until his final months, living and working on the Groner Family century farm in Folk, MO. He was active with the Ole Dogz of Westphalia, MO and in the lives of his family and friends. He loved and was loved, and he will be missed.
Visitation will be held at Trimble Funeral Homes - Jefferson City, Missouri, on Sunday, January 15, 2023, from 2-4 p.m. with the Wake Service to follow at 4 p.m. led by the Rev. Msgr. Marion J. Makarewicz. Additional visitation will be held Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church from 9:30-11 a.m.
The concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, January 16, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jefferson City, by Most Reverend John R. Gaydos, Bishop Emeritus of Jefferson City, Fr. Matthew Flatley, Fr. Eric Groner SVD, Priests of the Diocese and guest priests. Fr. Patrick Dolan will be the Homilist.
Burial will be in the Groner family plot in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Memorials are suggested to Catholic Missions or to any Catholic parish school.
Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City. trimblefunerals.com
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Father Groner was Responsible for helping my Parents renew their marriage in the Church when he was here @ Holy Family as Pastor, Teacher of R.C.I.A. as well as so many other programs that were good for both adults & Y outh alike.
You’ll be greatly missed & Loved.
The Kifer Family will pray rosaries for his precious soul. May he truly rest in peace and enjoy the Eternal Beatific Vision. Once you have us good advise to Bill and o er 20 yrs ego and clarified our questions.. Thank you for serving the Holy Church and the faithful. Much prayer from Manhattan, Ks. We will add your name to the 24/7 St. Joseph adoration Chapel in Manhattan, Ks. Father: Rest in the eternal love of the Lord Jesus.
A grateful fun memory is calling and helping us to find Mass times after a scout camping trip. He said, “You have time to make it to Rolla for the 4:00 PM Holy Mass!” And we did and we made it w Andy and Jacob..! Fun grateful memory for us.. Thank you Father!
John, my brother blessed with the heart of God reflected to me as an older brother while I was a young seminarian living in Columbia, MO and you a young priest serving with Msgr. Flood at Lourdes and on your way to traveling to serve on our mission parish in Marcona, Peru. I privileged to share moments with you as you made final preparations. Later when I visited Peru for 6 weeks, you met me at the airport. My luggage didn’t make it… Oh well you showed me how that wasn’t important and off we headed to Nasca… You on your way to be with Rev. Ralph Keyes then (and now, brothers rejoined). You would share your support heading up the efforts of the mission office with a dedicated mutually leading staff. You and your team would always be a support to us in Peru. When I returned from Peru I remember you showing my wife and I how to shoot clay saucers, we not doing so well, you hitting everyone of them. John you will always be a friend as Jesus told us because you did the will of the Father. Love you man. Go with God. Tell Me Ralph Keyes that I send my love as well his way. And remember our psalm from Conception, ” See how good and pleasant where friends together dwell… tis here that the Lord gives his blessing of life forevermore.”
John, my brother blessed with the heart of God reflected to me as an older brother while I was a young seminarian living in Columbia, MO and you a young priest serving with Msgr. Flood at Lourdes and on your way to traveling to serve on our mission parish in Marcona, Peru. I privileged to share moments with you as you made final preparations. Later when I visited Peru for 6 weeks, you met me at the airport. My luggage didn’t make it… Oh well you showed me how that wasn’t important and off we headed to Nasca… You on your way to be with Rev. Ralph Keyes then (and now, brothers rejoined). You would share your support heading up the efforts of the mission office with a dedicated mutually leading staff. You and your team would always be a support to us in Peru. When I returned from Peru I remember you showing my wife and I how to shoot clay saucers, we not doing so well, you hitting everyone of them. John you will always be a friend as Jesus told us because you did the will of the Father. Love you man. Go with God. Tell Me Ralph Keyes that I send my love as well his way. And remember our psalm from Conception, ” See how good and pleasant where friends together dwell… tis here that the Lord gives his blessing of life forevermore.”
May He Rest In Eternal Peace.
We had the pleasure of working with Father Groner during his tenure at Holy Family Parish in Hannibal and his knowledge and tenacity was amazing. He was also a kind spirit and willing to give others the benefits of his vast experience.
John was our best and oldest friend. We met him just after his ordination in 1971 and his first assignment to Our Lady of Lourdes in Columbia. After we moved to Colorado, John was a very frequent visitor along with other priests as they all enjoyed the beautiful Rocky Mountains with us. John especially enjoyed our many treks back packing into the wilderness of central Colorado. He was Uncle John to our 3 young daughters. His acceptance of all and anyone was proof of his closeness to God. We took great pleasure in and appreciation of many home Masses and some even being celebrated outdoors on a rock for an altar. Our sadness is relieved by knowing he is at peace now and in the arms of God.
Father was full of life , and enjoyed every minute, lo
Long ago when he came out of the movie theater in Hannibal with some friends, he found his Volkswagen turned over on it’s side, without skipping a beat he and passengers turned it upright and left the parking lot..
The Wilkings has purchased Tranquil White Lillies Basket for The Rev. John Groner
I am one of several Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Michigan who served with Fr. John Groner in the Peru Mission programs (1983-1996) and so enjoyed his jovial spirit and generous heart. We always looked forward to John’s annual Peru visit with Bishop McAuliffe and several of the Jefferson City Mission Office staff. We Sisters, hold in prayer all of you family and friends along with our brothers, John Groner and Ralph Keyes. I’m sure our Sisters Helen Battle and Grace Daniels were there to welcome John into the fullness of life along with Ralph, Bishop McAuliffe and other Peru Mission priests.
Blessings,
Sr. Kit Kaiser, csj
The Vise Family has purchased Peace Lily for The Rev. John Groner
Father John was affectionately know to us as “Uncle John”. He was like a family member to us for the past 52 years. His deep, long standing friendship with my mom and dad was a joy to watch and also sometimes like a sibling bantering match. He was funny, witty, intelligent and he loved to be right! hahahah We had so much fun growing up with him close to our family and he joined us on many family hikes and outings. He loved backpacking with mom and dad and hunting. He taught us three girls strategies in chess and other board games. He delighted in us figuring things out and delighted in himself when he could trick us and then he’d let out his big boisterous, booming laugh. John was a foodie long before there was such a thing and I learned cooking tips from him. He appreciated a fine wine, but was satisfied with the simple things in life. I got to practice my Spanish with him when he would visit from Peru. Some treasured moments were when we would bake the unleavened bread and he would celebrate eucharist with just the family. His deep commitment to his faith and our Lord is something I will always keep close to my heart. We miss and love you, Uncle John, and know you are heartily laughing and entertaining many people up in Heaven!
It was with great sadness that I heard of the death of John Groner. John was a great support to us Sisters from Ireland who worked with the Sisters of St. Joseph and the priests of Jefferson City in Peru. We all looked forward to the visit of John and Bishop McAuliffe when they came to Nasca and Marcona. We shared some serious meetings but always John helped to lighten up the situation with some funny joke which had us all laughing and enjoying the moment.
I extend my most sincere sympathy to John’s family and the larger family of Jefferson City on the sad death of John, may he rest in the Peace of the Risen Lord.