Thomas "Tom" A. Rokey

Thomas “Tom” Andrew Rokey, 63, of Fairview, Kansas, formerly of Sabetha, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, after a hard-fought battle against cancer. Tom spent his illness surrounded by loved ones who gave him constant comfort and support. He completed two clinical trials, helping provide invaluable research that could lead to better treatments for future cancer patients. Tom’s resilience and tenacity inspired everyone around him, although it came as no surprise to those who knew him well. He moved through the world with insatiable curiosity and a deep devotion to his loved ones, qualities that will always be remembered.

Tom was born at Sabetha Community Hospital on December 4, 1962, to Robert and Loree (Moser) Rokey. He graduated from Sabetha High School in 1981. On August 10, 1985, he married Rebecca “Becky” Joyce Plattner. The following year, he graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Feed Science and Management. Together, Tom and Becky raised three daughters, Erin, Gina, and Laura.

Tom deeply valued his 15 years at KSi Conveyors in Sabetha and, for the past 16 months, enjoyed working at his eldest daughter Erin’s medical software company.

Tom’s interests ranged from anthropology and economics to architecture and manufacturing, and he loved finishing an evening with an episode of How It’s Made. For Tom, understanding how something worked was a pleasure in itself, but building something with whatever he had on hand was even better.

Becky will tell you he never passed up a stop at a thrift store or flea market, always searching for a unique grilling contraption or parts for one of his many inventions. Tom’s ingenuity and creativity led to a family favorite, a made-from-scratch earth oven, that brought everyone many memorable meals. He insulated it with glass bottles and patched it by hand with clay from the yard, making it one of many ongoing projects.

Tom’s culinary curiosity extended to brewing and tasting all sorts of adventurous dishes. Almost all of his experiments turned out delicious, and they were certainly always interesting. Still, few things could beat his homemade bread and cheese paired with his son-in-law Tim’s latest cured creations from Bern Meat. And when it came to dessert, nothing topped Becky’s perfect apple galettes.

Tom’s curiosity about the world was impressive, but his knowledge of his hometown was unlimited. He loved Sabetha, its people, their connections, and the land itself. He read The Sabetha Herald faithfully and was a fountain of local history and family relationships. Like his dad, he could name any tree, had explored every nook and cranny of Sabetha Lake, and always kept an eye out for the most productive elderflower patches around town.

Above all, Tom treasured time with his family. He delighted in trips to Maryland to visit Laura and her family and in working alongside Gina at Glacial Hills throughout the week. In recent years, the family traveled to Florida, Colorado, Vermont, Quebec, and Cancun, creating countless memories and stories that will be part of family lore forever.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Loree Rokey, and his sister, Sheila Kay Strahm.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Rebecca “Becky” Joyce Rokey, with whom he shared 41 years of marriage; his three daughters, Erin Rokey (Adam Strom), Gina (Tim) Miller, and Laura (Chris) Powers; his three grandchildren, Wren Loree, Emerson Ann, and Arthur Thomas; his brother, Kerry Robert Strahm (Joe); and his sister, Jill Rebecca (Scott) McCrae.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the NorthRidge Church in Sabetha. Per the family's request, there will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested in Tom’s memory to two of his favorite nonprofit organizations: Homeward Bound, a volunteer-driven, nonprofit feline advocacy organization based in Bern, Kansas, established by Tom’s daughter, Gina Miller; 100% of proceeds go directly to cats in need, https://www.homewardbound.me/donate and COLONTOWN (A PALTOWN Community), an online community and resource hub for over 11,000 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, survivors, and care partners, https://paltown.org/donate/.