Jane Eileen Yocum (Young), 76, of Melvern, Kansas, peacefully passed away on January 11, 2025. Jane was born in Topeka, Kansas on August 10, 1948, to Vince Andre Young and Helen Mae Patterson Young, whom she loved very much. Jane was married to Kenneth Yocum for 57 truly beautiful years.
Jane graduated from Melvern High School in 1966, attended Washburn University from 1966-1968 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and a minor in History from Southwest Texas State in 1972.
Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Andre and Helen Young, her brother, Jim Young, and her sister, Kathy Young, a nephew, Jason Young, and a grandniece, Ashley Gasiorowski.
Jane is survived by her husband, Kenny Yocum, of Melvern, Kansas, her son, Jon Erik Yocum, of Emporia, Kansas, her sister, Marilyn Hines of Topeka, Kansas, and many beloved nephews and nieces: Kim Gasiorowski (Duke), Marcie Frederickson (Ty), Matthew Hines, Justin Hamilton (Brooke), Janell Carter, Ryan Young (Gwen) and Miranda Hamilton. Jane also deeply loved her grand nieces and nephews who survive her: Lauren Edwards (Brock), Giles and Grady Frederickson, Katelyn and Eli Hines, Sienna and Kaya Hamilton, Devan Zorn, James Young, Jaden Hamilton and Logan and Lara Parker.
Jane and Kenny met on a blind date in the summer of 1967 and were married in the Countryside United Methodist Church on June 15, 1968. Their life together was one of adventure and unconditional devotion and love. In August 1968, they returned to Homestead Air Force Base in South Florida where they lived until Kenny was assigned a one-year tour of duty in Thailand in December 1968. Upon return, Kenny and Jane relocated to San Antonio, Texas where they stayed until December 1973 when Kenny was assigned to Ramstein Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. They lived a wonderful life in Germany and Athens Greece, including one year at Iraklion Air Station on Crete, until 1979, when Kenny was assigned to Mountain Home, Idaho where their son, Jon Erik, was born in September 1980. Kenny was reassigned to Ramstein, Germany in January 1981, and he and Jane happily welcomed another opportunity to live in Europe.
They would spend the next 27 years of their life in Germany where Jane taught Home Economics at Ramstein High School before retiring in June 2008. Jane and Kenny built a beautiful log cabin on Jane’s homeland in Melvern, Kansas where they returned in August 2008 to be closer to family and to be positive, supportive influences in their community. They opened a small library in downtown Melvern and were actively involved in supporting local businesses and outreach programs. Jane loved to travel, to explore unfamiliar cultures in Europe, Southeast Asia, and East Africa, and to meet and get to know her fellow human beings.
Whenever she was with Kenny, either walking hand-in-hand through Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, celebrating Christmas in Berlin, Germany soaking up a Tanzanian sunrise in a hot-air balloon, trying new foods in Udorn, Thailand, or just watching a Kansas sunset from the porch of her log cabin with her beloved cats in rural Melvern, she was at her happiest.
Jane was extraordinarily proud of her son, Jon Erik, and loved him beyond words. She was also a relentless advocate for democratic ideals, her family, and for education. Jane Yocum’s positive influence will be carried on by those fortunate to have known her, and she will be missed tremendously.
