Jay Robert Drager, age 57, of Pueblo West, Colorado passed away October 30, 2025.

Jay was born February 2, 1968 in Boone, IA. As a young child his family moved to Chadron, NE, where he grew up. He attended Chadron High School where he participated in band as a trombone player. He graduated from Chadron High School in 1986.

Jay joined the US Air Force in December 1986. While in the Air Force, he was stationed in North Dakota and the UK. He enjoyed talking about the experiences he had in the military and about his explorations in much of the United Kingdom. He left the air force in May 1991.After the air force, Jay spent some time in Colorado Springs, CO, but in 1996 he moved back to the Black Hills region and joined the BNSF railroad as a conductor. He also welcomed his first child, Emilee Marie Drager. Jay went on to become an engineer with BNSF in 2000.

In 2002, Jay married his former wife, Nora Rae Leicht. In 2003, they welcomed their daughter, Samara (Mara) Jae Drager and in 2006, their son, Vincent Bryson Drager. The family lived in Nevada, Arizona, Nebraska, and in 2008, they decided to move to Pueblo West, CO. This would be the last move for Jay. This was a place that he loved for the proximity to the mountains, the hiking, camping and just plain fun he could have in the hills. He continued to work for BNSF out of La Junta, CO and was counting the days to retirement.

Jay enjoyed the outdoors. One of his favorite places to visit was Esterbrook, WY and the surrounding area. He also enjoyed rock climbing with his Jeep, finding new adventures and using the less beaten path to get to places. Even at home, he would be outside as much as possible, planning his next adventure. One of the things he got most excited about was getting together with the Chadron class of '86 during Fur Trade Days, they were a group of friends that he adored. He also loved listening to music and attending concerts. He would drag the kids to those concerts as well as on camping excursions, vacations, and solar eclipse viewings (even as adults).

Jay has now joined his father, Jerome Miller Drager, his grandparents Robert E. and Edna (Mueller) Drager, and Alfred and Florence (Brunstedt) Allen. He is survived by his children, Emilee Marie Drager, Samara Jae Drager, and Vincent Bryson Drager, his mother, Sheryl Lee Drager, his sister Amy (Jon) Stokes, his grandchildren, Emmett, Tinlee, and Atlas, his nephews Kyle and Trevor Stokes, and his niece Carly (Stokes) Gault.

In lieu of flowers, please make online gifts in memory of Jay Drager, to the Jay Robert Drager Memorial Scholarship https://bold.org/funds/jay-drager-memorial-scholarship-fund/ or to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation: http://give.bafound.org/donate

Visitation will be Friday, November 21, 9:00 - 10:00 am, Kinkade Funeral Chapel. Memorial Services will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 2pm at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel 1235 Junction Ave Sturgis, SD 57785

Jay Drager Folder