Henry W. Tagtmeyer

Henry Wesley Tagtmeyer was born September 23,1926 on the family farm north of Goodland, Kansas to his parents of Edmond Jacob and Ruby Rilla (Taylor) Tagtmeyer. He left us for his heavenly home Friday, March 28th, 2025 surrounded by his wife and his family.

“Hank” attended a one room school house through the 8th grade, and then graduated from Goodland High School in 1943. In the fall of that same year, he was drafted by the United States Army. He was part of the occupational force of the 98th Division in Japan and served in the 64th Engineers of Topographical Battalion. He believed he was the last known survivor. Hank proudly became the only remaining WWII veteran in Kit Carson County.

After serving his country, he came back to the family farm. While attending the Sherman County Fair with his best friend Jack Johnson, Hank’s life would change forever. A spicy young lady and her friend were washing their hogs, squirted them with the water hose. Jack replied “If you two girls would wash your feet we would take you to the rodeo tonight.” Hank would ask Alberta out for a second date at the local dance hall and later said “After the first kiss I have been in love ever since!”

Hank and Alberta were the first couple to be married in the newly constructed Immanuel Lutheran Church in Goodland Kansas, on May 2, 1949. The new couple worked on the family farm and dairy. While in Goodland they had their first son Terry Eugene and two years later, welcomed Mary Jo. During these years, Hank shared his father’s love of baseball and played center field for a Semi Pro team called the Lucky Tigers.

In October of 1952, they moved to a small farm south of Seibert Colorado. There was no running water, the outhouse had no roof, but they did have one small barn. They brought with them eleven holstein cows, two kids, a dog, and the faith that they would make it work. Together they built the dairy and expanded the farm. That year they built their first dairy barn that had a pit with four stalls. Milk was hauled to Seibert every two days in cream cans.

Kerry Sue and Larry Louis joined the family in 1958 and 1959. In 1961, they built a second dairy barn that had a pit and they could milk six cows on a side. This barn had a pipe line to a tank and milk was stored, very modern for the time. Later a stainless steel tank was added and milk was stored and shipped to Colorado Springs. In an effort to help get ahead, Hank worked part time for the local government measuring wheat acres, leaving Alberta home alone all day with no car and four kids, but was always home to help her milk.

Hank continued to play baseball in Seibert and Flagler in the summers. He always said he played on nearly every baseball field from Hill City Kansas to Colorado Springs. When he left the Lucky Tigers in Goodland he claimed they brought in a young man named Billy Martin to take his place. Martin went on to play and coach for the New York Yankee’s. This may have been an embellished story. Hank continued to play baseball up to the age of 42.

Hank loved to fish as well. In 1969, Hank and Alberta along with Doug and Marge Richie purchased a trailer house at Swanson Reservoir in Trenton Nebraska. The “Richmeyer” home was formed. Doug and Hank shared equipment and labor without ever exchanging money. Both men claimed they had the better end of the deal, remaining dear friends until their deaths.

Hank and Alberta loved to dance and play cards. They joined the Jolly Dozen Pitch Club in 1953 and were also members of the local square dancing group in Flagler. Many Saturday nights were spent dancing, arriving home just in time to milk the cows the next morning.

Hank served his community in many way. He was on the Seibert School Board, was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church for over 70 years, Director of the Mountain Empire Dairy Association, later called Western Dairy Cooperative Incorporated, and was a board member of K. C. Electric.

Hank and Alberta were huge supporters of their local schools. They enjoyed watching their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids playing baseball, basketball, softball, football, volleyball, running track, along with FFA and 4-H. Somehow they did this while milking cows two times a day. Hank continued to follow his great grandkids until his eyes no longer allowed him to enjoy the games in person.

Hank and Alberta hired many young kids to work on the farm, along with nieces and nephews whose parents thought they needed some life lessons. Many memories were created and everyone was made to feel like they were members of the Tagtmeyer family. Later in life they hosted four exchange students and loved sharing their home with them.

In 1997, they sold the dairy and moved in to Seibert. In an effort to stay busy, they took up the sport of golf. Hank was so proud to have gotten a “Hole in One” at the Stratton Golf Course. Hank and Alberta felt blessed to have so many good friends and neighbors to play cards and travel with.

At the age of 97 and 93, Hank and Alberta took their dream trip to see the Panama Canal. Later that spring they celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary. They proudly created a family of 69 members and still growing.

Hank is survived by is wife Alberta, son Terry (Janet) Tagtmeyer, daughter Mary Jo (Stan) Ravenkamp, daughter Kerry Sue (Curt) Sayles and son Larry (Julie) Tagtmeyer. They have 14 grandchildren, Troy, Scott, Todd, Darci, Janel, Stephanie, Kayla, Kylie, Lora, Morgan, Kori, Staci, Audrey and Kraig. 33 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Hank also has two brothers, Gary (Tootie) Tagtmeyer and Louis Tagtmeyer and sister Vida Riley, along with numerous nieces and nephews.  

He is preceded in death by his sisters Nadine Willt and Norma Stanart

Funeral Services will be held at the Zion Lutheran Church in Flagler CO and burial will be the Seibert Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions

Please make Memorial Contributions in Henry Tagtmeyer's name to:

Seibert Community Ambulance

P.O. Box 101

Flagler, Colorado 80815