Thomas Caldwell

Thomas Gerard Caldwell May 3, 1952 to August 19, 2018 Thomas (Tom) Gerard Caldwell of Surprise, Arizona passed away Sunday August 19, 2018 at the age of 66. A luncheon to celebrate his life will be held at Flannagan Hall, Our Lady of Lourdes, in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday October 13 from 11:30am to 1:30pm. Tom was born May 3, 1952 in Jefferson City, Missouri to Lawrence and Mary Ann (Luebbert) Caldwell. He is the third of seven children. He grew up in Columbia, Missouri and graduated from Hickman High School in 1970. He lived in the area for several decades (including Columbia, Booneville, and Marshall, Missouri) before he relocated to Arizona in 2000 to be closer to his son. Tom was respected by all who knew him and was a very devoted father and grandfather. A hardworking man, Tom worked as a meat cutter in the grocery business for 46 years until his retirement in 2014. Many of those years were spent working as a meat department manager. His hobbies included fishing, golf, and woodworking. In his final years, when his lung problems made these activities difficult, he took to latch hooking and created several special pieces for his granddaughter. Tom is survived by his son Ryan (Emily) Caldwell and his granddaughter Riley of Surprise, Arizona; his siblings Kenneth (Joan) Caldwell of Springfield, Missouri, Gary (Janet) Caldwell of St. Louis, Missouri, Allen (Donna) Caldwell of Columbia, Missouri, Dennis (Toni) Caldwell of Byrnes Mill, Missouri, Joyce (Craig) Mason of St. Peter's, Missouri, and Keith (Therese) Caldwell of Columbia, Missouri. Tom's parents preceded him in death. Tom is especially missed by his son Ryan, "daughter" Emily, and granddaughter Riley, with whom he lived for the last nine years. He enriched their lives in countless ways, and they will always be grateful for that. Ryan misses cooking for his father and consistent confidant of 44 years, Emily misses his humble words of wisdom, and four-year-old Riley especially misses her "grandpa monster" and sharer of strawberries.