The Rev. John William Groner, 78, Folk, retired Priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City, passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, in Westphalia after battling cancer.
He was born Jan. 3, 1945, to the late John H. and Lydia H. (Westerman) Groner in Jefferson City.
He 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 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 Pentecost Sunday, May 30, 1971, by Most Reverend Michael F. McAuliffe at Immaculate Conception Church in Jefferson City.
Father Groner’s pastoral assignments included: Associate Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in 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, Jan. 3, 1983-June 30, 1984; Director of Peru Mission Office and Director of the Propagation of the Faith, Jan. 1, 1983-Jan. 16, 1986; Pastor, Holy Family Church, Freeburg, Jan. 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, Jan. 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 May 26, 1996, at Holy Family Church in Hannibal and his 50th Anniversary of Holy Priesthood at St. Robert Bellarmine Church in St. Robert 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 and 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. He was active with the Ole Dogz of Westphalia and in the lives of his family and friends. He loved and was loved, and he will be missed.
He was preceded in death by parents, John and Lydia; brothers, Richard Groner, Henry Groner and Robert Groner; sister-in-law, Joann Groner; uncle, Monsignor Bernard S. Groner, who also served in the Diocese of Jefferson City; and his long-term caregiver, Jewel Tawney.
Father Groner is survived by brother, Bernard Groner and wife Donna; nine nieces and nephews, Cheryl Flickinger and husband Jerry, Maria Groner Watson and husband Phillip, 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 Avenoso and husband Andrew; 15 grandnieces and grandnephews; one great-grandnephew; and his brother priests.
Visitation will be held from from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Jan.15, at Trimble Funeral Homes in Jefferson City followed by the Wake Service at 4 p.m.with Rev. Msgr. Marion J. Makarewicz officiating. Additional visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 16, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jefferson City.
The concelebrated Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 16, 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.
Interment will be in the Groner family plot in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Jefferson City.
Memorial contributions suggestions to Catholic Missions or to any Catholic parish school.
Arrangements entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes in Jefferson City.
