Emery Fager

Emery E. Fager Emery E. Fager 97, died on December 28, 2014 at Brewster Place in Topeka, Kansas. He was born April 26, 1917 in Osage City, Kansas, the son of Oscar Edward Fager and Hilma Caroline Beckman Fager. He grew up close to Osage City attending Rapp School and Osage City High School graduating in 1934. During high school he worked part time at the Citizens State Bank in Osage City. He moved to Topeka in 1937 to work at the National Bank of Topeka and attend Washburn University. In 1940 he joined the US Army. He served as an officer in the US Army for six years. His last tour of duty was at Camp Crowder, Missouri where on July 26, 1943, he married his wife of 71 years Dorothy J. Alford. He resumed his banking career and became chief executive officer of the Kansas State Bank in Overbrook, Kansas, a position he held for 14 years. He and Dorothy were very active in the Overbrook community and were involved in many social and community organizations including the First United Methodist Church of Overbrook, the Masonic Lodge and the Rotary Club. In December 1959, Emery, Dorothy and their two children, Duane Fager and Jane Fager Anderson moved to Topeka to start the Commerce State Bank now known as CoreFirst Bank & Trust. Emery was the bank s first President and CEO and served on the Board of Directors. He had a long and distinguished banking career in Topeka and retired in July 2012 as Honorary Chairman of the Board. Emery was involved in banking for over 75 years. When the bank was started, he once made the statement, Commerce (CoreFirst) is to be a people oriented bank our philosophy was to serve the needs of all the people with the utmost convenience and with special emphasis on friendly, helpful and personal attention . Emery enjoyed his friends, his customers, his employees and his community. In 1976, Emery was appointed Bank Commissioner for the State of Kansas by then Gov. Robert Bennett. He took great pride as Bank Commissioner and the relationships he developed with the many bankers of Kansas. In 1979, he became President of the Kansas Bankers Association and later Chairman of the KBA Governing Council. His involvement with the KBA included helping to start the Kansas Venture Capital Corporation to provide capital to emerging Kansas industries and businesses. He also served on various committees for the American Bankers Association, Topeka Chamber of Commerce and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. He was also on the Board of the Union Gas Systems in Independence. Emery had 30 years of perfect attendance in Rotary from Overbrook to Topeka. He was subsequently recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. He also enjoyed his friends in the Masonic Lodge and Arab Shrine in Topeka. Emery helped found Habitat for Humanity. When he left Habitat, over 40 homes had been built and occupied. He was a board member of the USD 501 Foundation and a strong supporter of Washburn University and Washburn Endowment. In 1993, he received an Honorary Doctor of Commerce degree from Washburn. In 1995 he received the Ramona Hood Award for outstanding contribution to those in the community of health, education, recreation and welfare. Since 1959, he has been a member of Countryside United Methodist Church serving in many roles in the growth of Countryside. He was Co-Chair of the campaign to raise money to renovate the municipal auditorium into the Topeka Performing Arts Center. He was proud of his relationship with St. Francis Hospital, the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and served on the St Francis Foundation Board. In 1996 he was Topeka SMEI Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year. In 2004 he was inducted into the Topeka Business Hall of Fame sponsored by Junior Achievement. In 2005 he was proclaimed Distinguished Kansan of the Year by then Governor Kathleen Sebelius and the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas. Emery loved his family and enjoyed being with his children and grandchildren on many family occasions and vacations. Emery is survived by his wife Dorothy, son Duane (Elizabeth) Fager, Jane (William) Anderson, five grandchildren Angela Swift (Tim), Melissa Hiestand (Jeff), Aaron Anderson (Karen), John Fager (Cheryl), Emery Kent Fager and fourteen great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother Maurice E. Fager and sister Myrtle Eklund. He will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, Topeka, Saturday, January, 3, 2015 and Sunday, January 4, 2015 from 8:00 a.m. 9:00 p.m. A visitation will be held from 4:00 6:00 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2015 at the funeral home. A service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 5, 2015 at Countryside United Methodist Church, Topeka, and entombment will follow at Mount Hope Mausoleum, Topeka. Memorial contributions can be made to Countryside United Methodist Church or a charity of donor s choice. To leave the family a special message online, visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com. Emery E. Fager