Thomas Joseph Godefroid passed away on July 7, 2026, at the age of 75.
Born on April 20, 1951, Tom lived a life of hard work, hard play, curiosity, laughter, and more than enough mischief to keep things interesting. He never met a lake he didn’t want to explore from the driver’s seat of a boat, a fish he didn’t want to hook, or see something he didn’t want to tinker with.
Tom represented the very best of us. He was extraordinarily kind and would help anyone at a moment’s notice. He spent more time watching kids and grandkids practices, games, and performances than most coaching staffs. He had a great sense of humor, a lifelong mischievous streak, and a gift for making those around him laugh and smile. He fought Parkinson’s disease with his trademark stubbornness and a resolve that defined him more than any disease ever could.
Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Rosemary (Mizerany) Godefroid, who never left his side; his daughters, Lisa Lappin and Lori Stone, the loved ones he thought of first with every decision he ever made; the five grandchildren he cherished, Ryan, Allie, and Grant Lappin, and Declan and Mackenzie Stone; his twin sister, Pat Hoberg, who shared every chapter of his life from the very beginning; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mathias and Norris Godefroid, his sister Jean Husser, and his brother Bob Godefroid.
His absence creates a void that can’t possibly be filled, but the memories, stories, and lessons he leaves behind will live on in everyone fortunate enough to have known him.
There will be a celebration of Tom and his life on Saturday, August 8, at Kutis South County, located at 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd, 63129. Visitation will take place from 10:00 – 12:00 with a service following at 12:00.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to St. Jude stjude.org or the Parkinson’s Foundation apdaparkinson.org in honor of Tom and in defiance of the disease that changed his life, but not who he was.