Thomas Grote, 58, of Carroll, died on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2026 at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Merlin Schrad. Music will be by Kathy Halbur. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Miranda Grote. Gift Bearers will be Mary Jo Parrino and Kristie Carlson. Eucharistic Minister will be Kristie Carlson. Honorary Casket Bearers will be his brothers: John, Don, Ken, Rick, Ron, Scott, and Bill Grote. Burial will be at 1 p.m. in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Breda.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2026 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Saturday at the church prior to the Funeral Mass.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for Kuemper Catholic School Foundation or the St. Bernard’s Cemetery Foundation.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the Grote family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Thomas Joseph Grote passed away on December 23, 2025. He was 58 years old. Born on April 1, 1967, in Carroll, Iowa, Tom was the third of ten children born to Joseph and Donna Grote. He grew up on the family farm in Arcadia. Tom graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1985 and went on to earn his degree from Briar Cliff University in 1989.
Tom found his home in the heart of Des Moines. A long-time resident of the downtown area, he was a familiar face at the Des Moines Civic Center. As a long-time season ticket holder, Tom’s love for musical theater was a defining part of his life.
When he wasn’t at a show, Tom could often be found with a book in hand or gathered around a table for a game of cards. Card games were the heartbeat of family gatherings, and Tom cherished the hours spent competing and laughing with his family. He also spent many afternoons and evenings tuned into the radio, following the play-by-play of Iowa State Cyclones football and basketball games.
Tom is survived by his parents, Joseph and Donna Grote of Carroll; and his nine siblings: Mary Jo (Richard) Parrino of Washington, D.C.; John (Jeanette) Grote of Arcadia; Don Grote of Carroll; Kristie (Stein) Carlson of Spencer; Ken (Alexi) Grote of Monkton, Maryland; Rick Grote of Phoenix, Maryland; Ron Grote of Breda; Scott Grote of Carroll; and Bill (Jessica) Grote of Manning. He also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins who will miss his kindness and quick wit.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Walter and Martha Riesberg, and his paternal grandparents, Herman and Louise Grote.
