SGT Thomas James "T.J." Packer, 26, of Wakefield, Kansas and formerly of Tama, passed away October 8, 2015 in Geary County, Kansas due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Funeral Services will be held Saturday, October 17, 2015 at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located at 900 Park Street in Tama. Interment with military honors will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery in Montour. Visitation will be held Friday, October 16, 2015 from 4 - 8 PM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama.


T.J. was born on October 28, 1988 in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Jay and Marlene (Metz) Packer. He graduated from South Tama High School in 2007 and also attended Marshalltown Community College for construction. On March 12, 2013, he was united in marriage to Sarah McCune in Elizabethtown, KY.
T.J. was a SGT in the U.S. Army. T.J. and his young family were stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas. He served two tours in Afghanistan. Prior to the service, he worked at Fareway in Toledo. T.J. liked to attend Kansas State football games. He also enjoyed four wheeling and loved his special time with his family and his baby daughter.
Survivors include his wife, Sarah of Wakefield, KS; a daughter, Topanga Rose at home; his parents, Jay and Marlene Packer of Tama; one brother, Ben (Cheyanne) Packer of Tama and stationed in Okinawa, Japan; his grandmother, Laura Etta Metz of Tama; one great aunt, Wilma Krug of Tama; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; and his father and mother-in-law, James and Nancy McCune of Louisville, KY.
Preceding him in death were his grandparents, James and Thelma Packer and Bob Metz; and a cousin, Jeremy Johnson.
Memorials may be directed to the family for the future education of his daughter.