John Steven Yeager, 81 of Battle Creek, MI and Treasure Island, FL died peacefully at home Friday, April 14, 2023 with his wife and daughter at his side.
John was born in Warsaw, IN on October 3, 1941, the son of Robert S. Yeager and Gladys (Marks) Yeager. He graduated from Concord High School in Elkhart, IN, in 1959. He attended George Washington University, Tri-State College, both in Indiana and Oakland University in Rochester, MI. He honorably served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam era, and spent 18 months of his 4-year tour in South East Asia and the far east with the First Marine Air Wing. While in the service he worked in communications and carried a Top Secret clearance. He worked several years in the railroad industry, having first worked for the old New York Central in Elkhart, IN, as a yard brakeman, until he enlisted in the Marine Corps. After his military service he began his career at Grand Trunk Western RR, rose through the ranks, and had held 8 different management positions. He was General Superintendent of Operations when he took an early retirement in 1993 from GTW RR. After retirement from GTW, he began his career as a Federal Agent with the U.S. D.O.T. and Federal Railroad Administration. He was an exceptional Federal Agent receiving countless commendations for outstanding service, including the "Superior Achievement Award", which was presented to him at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., by the FRA Administrator. He retired from the FRA in 2002.
He enjoyed playing golf, weight training and running, running being his passion. He loved running various races having run the Old Kent Riverbank 25K run in Grand Rapids, MI, 21 times, the Bobby Crim 10 mile race in Flint, MI, 23 times, the Detroit Free Press Marathon 5 times, along with countless half marathons, 10K, and 5K races. He adored his grandchildren and loved attending their activities: Lauren's dance recitals, pageants, cross country and her performance in the Nutcracker, and Carter's cross country, golfing matches and his performances at the Frank Centre for the Arts in Grease, Back to the 80's and Frozen.
John was a member of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior in June of 2011 and was baptized. He loved reading his Bible, and many times Regeana found him in his chair, Bible opened in his lap, snoozing... having sweet heavenly dreams.
He was united in marriage to Regeana Pruett on July 20, 1985, at Pennfield Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek, MI. They were married for 37 years and upon retirement in 2002, started spending their winters in Treasure Island, FL, his ultimate happy place and their summers in Battle Creek, MI, enjoying year-round golf. Surviving are his wife, Regeana; son, Jared Rodriguez of Louisville, KY; daughter, Jessica Damon (Dustin) of Olivet, MI; granddaughter, Lauren Damon of Salt Lake City, UT; grandson, Carter Damon of Olivet, MI; brother, Richard (Judy) of Ocala, FL; and sisters, Betty Pettifor of Edwardsburg, MI and Teresa Hostetler of Bremen, IN and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
In keeping with his wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial services and cremation has taken place.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service, 269-788-9800, www.baxterfuneral.com