Thomas "Tom" DeGroot

Funeral services for Thomas “Tom” DeGroot, age 75, of Madison, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Madison. Reverend Caitlin Bentzinger and Reverend Marshall Johnson will officiate, with burial in Crown Hill Cemetery in Madison.

Military honors will be provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5763, American Legion Post 35, Army National Guard Honor Guard, and American Legion Riders.

Visitation will be Friday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue in Norfolk, Nebraska.

Tom died Sunday, December 10, 2023, at the University of Nebraska Medicine Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

Thomas William “Tom” DeGroot, son of William and Eileen (Lintner) DeGroot, was born December 6, 1948, at Norfolk, Nebraska. He attended elementary school in Enola and graduated from Madison High School and Norfolk Junior College. After graduation, Tom served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Germany.

On May 31, 1969, Tom was united in marriage to Cindy Robinette Barr at Trinity United Methodist Church in Madison. They were blessed with one son, Todd Thomas.

Tom spent his childhood in Enola and later on at the family farm. After he was honorably discharged from the Army, Tom and his family joined his parents in the family business of raising apples, vine crops, and farming. Tom spent his lifetime being involved in every aspect of DeGroot’s Orchard. Tom was honored to be chosen to supply apples to the University of Nebraska for many years. He felt very blessed and was humbled by the support of the communities of northeast Nebraska and beyond, which has allowed the family business to continue into the fifth generation of DeGroot’s Orchard.

He has been a lifelong member of Trinity United Methodist Church and was a member of American Legion Post 35 in Madison.

Tom loved being outdoors, spending time fishing and hunting with his family and friends. He also loved watching his son and now his grandsons play their favorite sports.

Tom is survived by his wife, Cindy DeGroot of rural Madison; son, Todd (Angie) DeGroot of Enola; two grandsons, Teagan and Tanner DeGroot; and brother, Norman DeGroot of Los Angeles, California.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

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