Thomas 'Tommy Man' H. Effertz, Jr.

Thomas Hubert Effertz, Jr., (Tommy) 54 of Kansas City, MO passed away February 23, 2017 with his family by his side. Visitation will be held Thursday, March 2 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. and The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:00 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11822 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO. Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Tommy Effertz was born August 17, 1962 ("on the 8th month") in Kansas City, MO. In 1971, moved to the Woodhaven Learning Center in Columbia, MO, where a community of caring staff gave young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to do things for themselves in a safe environment. In 1983, Tommy moved back to Kansas City to be near his family and lived in a group home through Open Options. Tommy worked at Payless Grocery Store in Red Bridge, the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City, and in 1995, began working at Cosentino's Price Chopper on 103rd St. for the next 17 1/2 years. During the past year, Tommy enjoyed working in the office of Effertz Farms, LLC, alongside his brother, Mike Effertz. During his youth, Tommy traveled around the United States with Woodhaven Learning Centers Adapted Handbell Choir, which performed in all 50 states, President Ronald Reagans Inauguration, and the White House. Tommy loved to plan activities, whether it was a vacation to Disneyland or a trip to his familys Lake house, a movie and dinner on the Plaza with his girlfriend Denise, picking up a jumbo beef, beans, coleslaw and 20 oz. Diet Coke from Fiorellas Jack Stack Barbecue, or going to the drive-thru at Burger King, eating dinner on Wednesday nights with his STM friends at Windy City Pub, (Bogeys) taking a trip to Columbia, MO, going to Fluffy Fresh Donuts with his Uncle Tom Dunn (his "Main Man") and his Aunt Monica (Effertz) Dunn, or going to the Chiefs game with his surgeon Dr. Mizrahi and Dr. Horowitz, or another outing to CVS Pharmacy to buy two more BIG bottles of shampoo! Tommy knew how to make things happen and never quit until he got the JOB done! He was truly one of a kind, impacting so many lives around him with his contagious smile, his laughter, his heart-felt passion for life, and his daily phone calls to family and friends where he always left that familiar message, "This is Tom Effertz speakingI love you all very muchbye!" Tommys "abilities" taught those around him about the importance of patience, kindness and love.
Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Sheila (Ryan) Effertz and his grandparents, Ed and Marie (Muser) Effertz and William and Marion (Gibson) Ryan. Tommy is survived by his three siblings, Mike Effertz (Kim), Chrissy (Effertz) Fiorella and Carolyn (Effertz) Dorlac (Jim) and his 11 nieces and nephews: Paige Effertz Mansfield (Ryan), Madelyn Effertz Taylor, (Kimbrough) Alex and Brent Effertz; Michael Looney, Anna Marie, Claire and Grace Fiorella; Jimmy, Ryan and Tommy Dorlac, along with his 75 aunts, uncles and cousins. "Tommy Man, this is your family speakingwe all love you very muchbye!" In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Open Options of Kansas City, or the University of Kansas Cancer Center.



SERVICES Visitation
Thursday, March 2, 2017 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
St. Thomas More Church 11822 Holmes Road Kansas City, MO 64131
Mass of Christian Burial
Thursday, March 2, 2017 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
St. Thomas More Church 11822 Holmes Road Kansas City, MO 64131
Interment
Thursday, March 2, 2017 1:30 PM
Calvary Cemetery 6901 Troost Ave Kansas City, Missouri 64131