Linn County News
Published March 10, 2021
Alfonso Gainer Jr. (Junior), 86, of Garnett, Kan. (formerly Centerville, Kan.), died on Sunday, March 7, 2021.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 11, 2021, with the funeral service to follow at 7 p.m. at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Louisburg, Kan. Burial will be held later with the immediate family at the Queen of the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Wea, Kan., beside his son, Christopher Allen Gainer.
Junior was born on Oct. 28, 1934, in White Pine, W. Va., the son of Alfonso Gainer Sr. and Opal Regina Bennett Gainer. He was raised in a very humble home in the hills of West Virginia. His first job was working with Tracy Lydicks where he worked a team of mules pulling logs. His wages were $2 per day, and it was hard work. Junior attended Trace Fork School in West Virginia. After completing the eighth grade, to escape working in the coal mines of West Virginia he joined his cousin, Ron Gainer, in Kansas for promises of good employment. He went to work for a tree trimming company and worked at a gas station in Shawnee, Kan. He later went to work as an operator in the heavy equipment construction business. On Oct. 1, 1958, he joined International Union of Operating Engineers Local 101 as a heavy equipment operator. After retiring he worked just as hard at home and helping others as he did prior to retiring.
Al met his future wife, Mary Ellen Stahl, at the young age of 17. Mary Ellen and Al were set up on a blind date by his cousin, Ron Gainer, and Mary Ellen’s cousin, Edna Kupersmith. They were married at the Queen of Holy Rosary Church in Wea, Kan., on May 1, 1954. Al and Mary’s marriage lasted for 67 wonderful years!
In 1958, after living in Raytown, Mo., Al and Mary purchased a new home in Shawnee, where they resided until 1980 when they moved to Linn County, Kan. Junior enjoyed fishing, deer hunting and hunting for morel mushrooms, tinkering with his tractors and taking drives. He was also ready to help his kids and anybody else that needed it.
After moving to Linn County, Junior and Mary then moved to their newly built home in Centerville, Kan. They always planted a large garden, enjoyed having company and especially loved it when all the kids and their families were there on Sunday afternoons for a big meal and fellowship.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfonso and Opal Gainer; sons, Robert (Bob) Gainer and Christopher (Chris) Gainer; sister, Joan Hughes; and brothers, Edwin “Ed” Gainer, Jack Gainer, Vurl Bland and Burl Bland.
Survivors include daughter Joyce Stoughton (Randy), Osawatomie, Kan.; son Doug Gainer (Lisa), Parker, Kan.; sister Lelia Gainer of St. Charles, Mo; grandchildren Jessica Berg, DeAnna Morgan and Dalton Gainer; and five great-grandchildren, Emery Morgan, Dakota Berg, Liam Berg, Hadley Morgan and Owen Morgan.
Though he remained in Kansas for the rest of his life, his heart never left the mountains of West Virginia. He returned there as often as possible to visit family and friends and to hunt in the places of his youth on Turkey Knob.
Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice or Queen of the Holy Rosary Cemetery c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, P.O. Box 669, Louisburg, Kan. 66053.
To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.dengelmortuary.com
Arr: Dengel & Son Mortuary Louisburg Chapel
OBITUARIES
Janice Ann Leasure Woodrum ~ 05-04-1948 to 03-05-2023

Linn County News Published March 15, 2023 Janice Ann Leasure Woodrum, Chehalis, Wash., formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed March 5, 2023. Memorial service arrangements will be announced at a later date by the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. ... [More]
Lewis Michael Wilson ~ 08-13-1952 to 03-05-2023

Linn County News Published March 15, 2023 Lewis Michael Wilson, age 70, Pleasanton, Kan., formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed Sunday March 5, 2022. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel.... [More]
Janet Dean Robinson Staton ~ 02-16-1939 to 03-08-2023

Linn County News Published March 15, 2023 Janet Dean Robinson Staton, age 84, Cleveland, Mo., passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2023. Funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Monday, March 13, 2023, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton... [More]
More Obituaries
- Margaret Ellen McRae ~ 01-30-1932 to 03-06-2023
- C.H. Parker ~ 08-24-1942 to 03-06-2023
- Louise Shattuck ~ 11-28-1933 to 03-06-2023
- Larry Ray Thompson ~ 03-30-1949 to 02-28-2023
- Harper Darleane Marie McCowin ~ 11-26-2022 to 02-24-2023
- Maribelle L. “Mary” Wiles ~ 03-27-1943 to 02-21-2023
- James Dean Allen ~ 08-10-1951 to 02-26-2023
- Janet Jolene Reed ~ 04-09-1963 to 02-20-2023
NEWS
Commissioner’s discussion on wage options gets heated

During the tail-end discussion amongst commissioners at Monday’s meeting regarding wage increases, Commissioner Jason Hightower noted a plan presented by County Clerk David Lamb for a $1 per hour across the board raise rather than a percentage based raise, which some county... [More]
County discusses options for Pleasanton meal site

Commissioner Danny McCullough opened a discussion on the Pleasanton Senior Meals site during the March 13 meeting with a slideshow of photos he had taken of various issues in the current site. The photos showed a variety of issues that McCullough said he took from the viewpoint... [More]
Parker leaders consider truck route

Parker city leaders may consider a future action to establish a legal truck route within the city. Tim Griffin, past councilman, broached the topic at last Thursday’s monthly council meeting in asking for a follow-up to his truck-route question from the January council... [More]
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SPORTS
Jayhawk Wrestling Club has five place at State

The Jayhawk Wrestling Club went to the kid’s State wrestling tournament this past weekend, March 10-12, in Topeka. The team did very well taking seven wrestlers and five placing in the competition. Maggie Earnest, 8U Girls 70, placed second and scored 20 team points.... [More]
Linn County Twisters takes 13 to State, 5 place

The Linn County Twisters wrestling team took 13 wrestlers to the kid’s State wrestling tournament in Topeka March 10-12. The Twisters had five of their 13 wrestlers place in the tournament. Taryn Mills, HS Girls 130, was eliminated after two matches in the tournament.... [More]
More Sports
- Pleasanton basketball falls in the first round of Sub-State
- White places sixth for Jayhawk wrestling at State
- Kline and Cox-Halliburton represent Prairie View at State
- Prairie View basketball splits against Anderson County
- Lady Hawks double up Altoona
- Pleasanton basketball defeats Bronaugh, falls to Cherokee
- SPECIAL: WE HAVE PHOTOS!
- Jayhawk wrestling wins TRL dual tournament

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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com