Jeffrey D. Thayer, 65, of Salem, Ill., died Sept. 27, 2015, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.
He was born Feb. 14, 1950, in Geneva, to Elmer Eugene Thayer Jr. and Mary Louise (Nicoson) Thayer. He married Gloria (Greinert) Thayer on Aug. 19, 1972, in Lebanon.
He grew up on a dairy farm and went to grade school at Adams School in Troy Center. He graduated from East Troy High School where he was homecoming king and captain of the football and baseball teams. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. He worked as a Territory Manager in seed sales for Cargill Hybid Seed for 27 years where he won numerous awards. In 2007, he and Gloria started working with Crop Production Services as an independent seed dealer doing business as GT seeds.
He was an avid bowler and a member of the Jaycees, including being named a past Jaycee of the Year.
He is survived by a son, Jeffrey F. (Rochelle), of St. Charles, Mo.; grandchildren, Strong and Victory Thayer, of St. Charles, Mo.; three sisters, Judy Zander, Polly Pope, and Peggy Swanson, all of Fremont, Neb.; a sister in-law, Peggy (Larry) Koeppen, of Oshkosh; nieces and nephews, Kevin Koeppen and family, of Bonita, Calif., Kenneth Koeppen and family, of Oshkosh, Kristin Koeppen, of St. Paul, Mo., Tracy Pressler and family, of Fremont, Neb., and Jenn Swanson-Ahearn, of Carmel, Ind.
Visitation was held Thursday night at Rogers Atkins Funeral Home, 403 S. Broadway, Salem, Ill., 62881. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m., Friday at Salem Lutheran Church with the Rev. Doug Meyer officiating. Burial will take place at Hillside Cemetery in Palmyra.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Salem Lutheran Church, The Diabetes Association, or the American Kidney Foundation.
