James Frank Thacker, 66, of Horton, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at the Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, Kansas.

He died from complications resulting from being stubborn, refusing to go to the doctor, and enjoying life for six decades. A heart attack also played a role in his demise.

He was born on May 26, 1952, in Fairfax, Missouri, the son of Raymond and Gladie “Maggie” Lois Riley Thacker.  After graduation from high school, he joined the Kansas National Guard and he separated from the Guard in October of 1977.  He married Glenda Weidman in 1972, they later divorced in 2001. They continued a life of friendship that many did not understand but admired-spending holidays, family birthdays, and special events together.
Jimmy worked for the Kansas Department Of Transportation and for Hammersmith Manufacturing before retiring in 2014.

He was a member of the NRA and a lifetime member of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society since 1979. He lived a life of a true angler-always looking forward to that next cast and beating his Bass Club buddies by bringing in the biggest bass (sometimes the only bass) and taking home the many, many trophies that currently fill his home. He enjoyed the Father-Son tournaments, where he took his daughters to prove girls are better than boys. During his retirement he continued to fish as much as possible. When he wasn’t fishing you could find him at home blaring his red dirt music, strumming his guitar, and cracking a cold natty light to “wet his whistle”.  He loved to tell jokes and always had a wise-crack response that kept us all on our toes and laughing. He lived a life of “work hard and play harder” all the way up to the day he left us. He leaves many friends who always knew they had a place to go to share drinks, BS, and laughter.

Survivors include two daughters, through whom his stubbornness will always live, Natasha (Justin) Gladden of Agency, Missouri, and Amanda Thacker of Topeka, Kansas; two brothers, Benny Thacker of Horton, Kansas, and Leon Thacker of Buffalo, Missouri; one sister, Katie Austin of Shubert, Nebraska; the Light of his eyes and last hope to continue his fishing and hunting dreams two grandchildren, Tesia Thacker of Kansas City, Missouri, and Logan Gladden of Agency, Missouri.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant son, James Matthew Thacker, and a brother, Marion Thacker.

Memorial service is planned for Saturday, October 27, 2018, at 1pm with visitation to follow until 3pm at the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton, Kansas.  A Celebration of life in true Jim style will follow at 5pm at Country Crossings Event Center near Horton, Kansas.

Memorials may be sent to the Jimmy Thacker memorial fund to be designated later and may be sent in care of the mortuary. A special message may be sent to the family at www.dishon-maple-chaney.com