Thomas H. Yager

Thomas Harry Yager, 92, of Marysville, KS, died August 26, 2022, at Community Memorial Healthcare in Marysville.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, September 1, at Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville. Richard Mullins will officiate. Private burial will be held at a later date in Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Tom was born May 21, 1930, in Barneston, NE, to Harry and Stella (Casey) Yager. He went to school in Marysville at Lincoln Elementary and graduated from Marysville High School in 1948.

Tom met the love of his life, Patricia K. Burgert, at a VFW dance. They were married at the United Evangelical Church at Marysville, on August 17, 1951. They recently celebrated 71 years of marriage.

Tom was proud of his work ethic. He worked 11 years for the Union Pacific Railroad B&B Bridge Department from 1948 to 1959. After that he worked as a butcher for Swim’s Locker Plant from 1959 to 1968, and later returned to the railroad as a Trainman in 1969 until retiring in 1985.

Of all the things he did, Tom was most proud of his service in the National Guard where he served 22 years, from November 7, 1947, to November 7, 1969, attaining the rank of 1st Sergeant at retirement. Tom served one Tour in Vietnam in March of 1969 until November of that year. He was the last surviving charter member of the Local National Guard Unit Battery B of the 154th Field Artillery, later renamed the 169th Brigade, which was organized in November of 1947 and headquartered at Hiawatha.

After Tom retired in 1985, he and Pat moved to St. James City, FL, where they spent many happy years there. He obtained a Captain’s license, and they began a charter fishing business, named after his wife under the name “Patty K Charters,” which they operated for 16 years. He loved fishing and it was a perfect fit for both of them. They enjoyed taking many folks from Marysville and the surrounding area for fishing trips in the Gulf, along with shelling and crab hunting adventures. Once they were no longer physically able to do their fishing business, they moved back to Marysville and for the last few years lived at Country Place Senior Living.

Tom had a great memory and was known for his marvelous ability to tell stories in great detail. He loved having a good meal out and occasional margarita. Tom was a member of the VFW, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Shriners Club and Union Pacific Old Timers Club. Some may remember Tom in the local parades looking formidable as he marched down the street in the local parades in his Shriner costume swinging his large, fake sword.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, John Flynn; brothers, Kenneth Osborne, Ronald Flynn and Raymond Yager; sister, Myrna Yager Beede; daughter-in-law, Sunyi Yager; and son-in-law, John Otero.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia; sister, Mary Cooper, Phoenix, AZ; children, Thomas M. Yager, Liberty, MO, Robert (Mary) Yager, St. James City, FL, Gary (Cindy) Yager, Steven (Cathy) Yager, all of Marysville, and daughter, Karen Otero, Denver, CO; eleven grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Camp Quality, a camp in Missouri for children with cancer. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary. Video of funeral for Tom Yager Video of military honors for Tom Yager.