TOPEKA, Kan. – Thomas Wayne Badger, 79, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at Stormont-Vail Hospital, Topeka, Kan. He was born Aug. 31, 1943, in Scranton, Kan., the son of Glen and Minetta (Finlay) Badger.

Tom received a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in ag education. He worked as an area conservationist for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, and retired with more than 35 years of service. He had also worked on the Governor’s Water Quality Project. He served for six years in the Kansas Army National Guard, and was a member of the Stull Community of Faith Church, the Topeka Sunflower Lions Club, and the Vesper Lodge No. 136 in Burlingame A.F.&A.M.

On June 5, 1965, Tom was united in marriage to Laura Elaine Smith, in Scranton.

Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine, on Oct. 23, 2020; by an infant daughter, Tracy Badger; by his parents, Glen and Minetta; and by his brother, Glen Badger.

Tom is survived by his two children, Todd Badge,r of Stuart, Fla., and Tara Phillips, Sedgwick, Kan.; sister, Nancy Urish, Topeka; and eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life for Tom will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Stull Community of Faith Church. Inurnment will be in the Burlingame Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation or the Stull Community of Faith Church, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451. Condolences can be left at feltnerfuneralhome.com.