Tom Freddy Monfrooy, Sr.

Tom Freddy Monfrooy, Sr. passed away peacefully Monday, March 6th, at his home in Price, Utah. He was born April 27, 1922, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to Carel Gerritt Monfrooij and Neelje Marie Lageweg. As a sixteen year old, he went to work for the Holland America Steamship Company. When he was 18, he was on a crew that shipped out of the Netherlands just weeks before Holland was invaded by the Nazis. His ship, however, was detained in New York Harbor for several weeks before he and a friend Leo Pronk became restless and decided to hitch hike to California to find maritime work on the Pacific Ocean. The adventurers were stopped in Salt Lake City as suspected Nazi spies. Since they were in the Country illegally, they were not allowed to leave Utah, so they found work locally. In 1941, he married Clasiena Vonk, who had been born in Rotterdam and had immigrated with her family to the States as an eleven year old in 1929. In 1942, they had one child, Tom Freddy Monfrooy, Jr. 
Although Monfrooy spent the last 24 years in Price, he lived in and traveled from Salt Lake City for the previous 51 years, living with his wife Clasiena and young son in a small house on his in laws’ property. As a family, they took many trips together, however, he enjoyed discovering the world by himself, often being gone for a year at a time. In his long life, he visited over 150 foreign countries, being conversant in several languages. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, graduating with honors, and later trained as a master baker, which was how he preferred to earn a living. He enjoyed classical music and read prodigiously, loving to argue politics with anyone willing to engage him. After Clasiena passed away in 1991, he married Lucy Gomes, and moved to Price, where he enjoyed his neighbors, friends and wonderful air.
Preceded in death by his wives, his parents and his siblings Catherina, Elizabeth, Cornelis and Cornelia, daughter-in-law Kathleen Wood Monfrooy, and grandson Tom Freddy Monfrooy III.
He is survived by his son Tom, Jr. (Kathleen Kerby), grandchildren Monique (Ed Evans), Anique (Andrew Keach) and Eric, plus great granddaughters Fleur and Alouette Monfrooy Keach, all of Salt Lake City.
There will be no memorial service. The family appreciates the many visits and hospitality of friends, neighbors, and nursing staff in Price who provided quality care and assistance that made it possible for Dad to stay in his home according to his wishes.