Joe and Tami Grubb’s love story began at a Super Bowl party and flourished for 27 years.
Highlights
- Joe Grubb passed away on January 22, 2025, at age 54, from glioblastoma, with his Celebration of Life scheduled for February 8, 2025.
- Their love story began at a 1996 Super Bowl party and grew into a 27-year marriage.
- The 2025 Super Bowl will be particularly poignant as it marks the first time in nearly 30 years that Joe and Tami won’t watch together.
Joe Grubb built an impressive career as an athlete and family man in Missouri.
Born on August 16, 1970, in Independence, MO, he became a standout athlete at Odessa High School, graduating in 1989.
His athletic prowess showed early as he earned All-State honors in football and became the sixth Bulldog wrestling state champion in the 189-pound weight class.
His success continued at Central Missouri State University (now UCM), where he played football while earning his biology degree.
Grubb’s collegiate football career was remarkable, recording 333 tackles (second in school history) and earning second-team All-American honors in 1991.
He also made the first-team All-MIAA in 1991 and 1992. His outstanding achievements led to his induction into the UCM Hall of Fame in 2010.
After college, Grubb maintained strong ties with UCM athletics, helping establish the MBBL-Mule Ball Brothers For Life organization to support UCM athletic programs.
Professionally, he worked at JE Dunn Construction from 2014 to 2023 and was a member of the Carpenters Union Local 1127 since 1998.
Celebration Of Life For Joe To Be Held On February 8, 2025, In Odessa, Missouri
Joe passed away on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at age 54, in Odessa, Missouri, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with glioblastoma.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the Odessa R-7 High School Gymnasium at 713 S. 3rd St., Odessa, MO.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be directed to Tami Grubb.
She plans to honor Joe’s legacy by distributing these memorial funds to support local programs and athletes at both the Odessa R-7 School District and the University of Central Missouri.
A GoFundMe campaign, organized by Marc Tuttle on behalf of Tami, has already raised approximately $37,000 of its $68,000 goal.
The 2025 Super Bowl will mark the first time in almost 30 years that Joe and his wife, Tami, won’t watch the big game together.
While Joe’s passing leaves a void in many lives, Tami continues to honor his memory by supporting the athletic programs and communities that meant so much to them both.
Those wishing to share memories of Joe or offer condolences to his family can do so at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on their Facebook Page.
The funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home in Odessa, Missouri.
Joe Grubb And His Wife, Tami, Were Together For Almost Three Decades
The love story of Joe and Tami Grubb began at a Super Bowl party in Louisburg, Kansas, in 1996.
Tami, whose full name is Tamra “Tami” Sue Cain, was teaching and coaching in Louisburg when Joe’s brother-in-law played matchmaker, asking if she was single before introducing her to Joe.
Their connection was immediate, and they married on April 5, 1997, in Wea, Kansas.
Throughout their 27-year marriage, Tami witnessed a side of Joe that his football teammates rarely saw.
Behind his tough exterior as a “mean and ornery Missouri mule” on the football field, Joe was incredibly thoughtful and loving.
Every morning, without fail, he would text Tami saying, “good morning, beautiful, I love you,” a gesture that became a cherished part of her daily routine.
Their partnership was built on mutual support and shared interests.
While Tami had a talent for envisioning home projects, Joe, with his carpentry skills, would bring these visions to life.
Together, they built a life focused on family and community in Odessa, Missouri.
Tami, now 52, shared Joe’s passion for athletics, and together they raised three accomplished daughters – Kylin (now married to Ryan Mantle), Kinly, and Kloee – all of whom went on to become college athletes.
Their family recently expanded to include a grandson, Wesley Rhey Mantle.
Additional Information
- As a college football player, he served as team captain and earned significant recognition, including being named first-team All MIAA in 1991 and 1992 and second-team All-American in 1991.
- Just months before his passing, in fall 2024, he was elected into the Odessa R-VII Public Foundation Hall of Fame and was honored at a football game in September.
