Thomas E. Hyland

Thomas E. Hyland was 74 when he said goodbye and went to be with the Lord early Friday morning December 30, 2016 at Wellsville Retirement Center in Wellsville, Ks. He originally resided in Stilwell, Kansas until he had to start a new path which led his journey to Wellsville Retirement Center to live out the rest of his life due to his Alzheimer's Disease. His road began on August 23, 1942. His parents were Herb and Bernice Hyland who resided in Washington, Ks. Tom was blessed to have a little brother named James Patrick Hyland. Tom came to a curve shortly in his life at the early age of 9. He survived a ruptured appendix in 1951. He enjoyed talking about his youth and growing up in Washington, Ks. He injured his knee his senior year at a Washington High School football game. Thomas graduated in 1960. His journey took him to KU where he played trombone for the KU band in 1960-1964. He was a Delta Sigma Phi member and was president one year. In 1962, Thomas's road led him to Charlene Kingry. They married on August 23, 1964. He was hired by Townley Wholesale Hardware Company in Kansas City in January of 1967. Meanwhile, Thomas and Charlene had three children, Tim, Jackie, and Angie. In 1982, Townley Hardware was sold to a Cleveland Company which led Tom to start a new adventure with a sales rep business. They represented many U.S. companies including one in Mexico and one in Canada. They did business with wholesalers and direct buy retailers. Tom had some curves and bumps along this road of business, but he seemed to always find an alternate route, never giving up. He told his daughter, Jackie, that life is like a basketball game. Always be thinking of your next play in case the first play does not happen. Tom and Charlene were faced with some challenges along their road of life. They lost their daughter, Angie, in 1995. Thomas retired in 2012 and was shortly diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. When we look back on his life, we believe, he had this early on but due to his ability to adapt, he was able to come up with the next plan or play. Tom would end personal documents with "one mule we find two legs behind and two we find before, but we go behind before we find, what the legs behind before.!" Thomas was blessed and leaves behind many family and friends. Survivors include his wife, Charlene, son, Tim Hyland and wife Annette, daughter, Jackie Corbett and husband Jeremy, brother, Pat Hyland and wife Leslie, five grandkids and seven great grandkids. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association in Prairie Village, KS or to KSDS in Washington, KS 66968 and sent in care of the funeral home at Penwell " Gabel Louisburg Chapel To share your memories of Tom or leave a special condolence message for his family, please click the Share Memories button above. Stilwell United Methodist Church 19335 Metcalf Ave. Stilwell, KS Service: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at 10:00am Visitation: Tuesday, January 3, 2017 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm