Linn County News
Published Aug. 18, 2021
Our beloved Charline Louise Klopfenstein left us far too soon. Peacefully, on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, she went to be with our Lord. Our lives are richer because she was a part of us; she will be greatly missed.
Charline was born June 19, 1936, to Charles and Aline Eichelberger in Pueblo, Colo. She married Willis Eugene Klopfenstein on May 25, 1958. Will died in an accident in 1984; Charline never stopped longing for him. Now they will always be together.
Starting at a young age, Charline worked in her family’s greenhouse, learning the business of raising and marketing plants and her flower arrangements. Later she joined the U.S. Treasury Department where she was employed in both Denver and Kansas City.
When she and Will moved back to his hometown, they made their home on the Klopfenstein farm northeast of Pleasanton. Their house burnt one night when they were at a school basketball game. Charline always spoke fondly of how her adopted community helped them in the dark days following that tragedy. They made their new home in a building Will had erected on the property; Charline continued to live there with all her fond memories her entire life until just this past May.
She gave up working outside the home when she and Will started their family. She continued to give to the Pleasanton community as a leader of the local Girl Scout troop and as a member of the First Christian Church. Along with Stephen Johnson and Kenton Bell, she played a major role in designing and installing the Civil War scenes that are still on display at the Linn County Historical Museum.
She joined the staff of the Pleasanton School District in the late 1970s as assistant librarian in both the junior high/high school and the elementary school. An excellent listener and a kind friend, she enriched many lives, both adults and children.
Her biggest regret was that she had no formal education beyond the eighth grade; as an adult she earned her GED. Anyone who knew her, however, would attest that she was far smarter and more talented than any degree could have made her. Far too modest to admit it, Charline was a gifted artist who never hesitated to lend her skills to anyone who needed them. Her self-learned knowledge of nature and her willingness to share that knowledge drew many people to seek her help. Her story of raising and taming a pair of orphaned possum joeys was just one example of the diverse relationships she had with wild and domesticated animals; she taught many Girl Scouts the joy of making hollyhock ladies and other magical nature projects. Her love of reading led her from Smithsonian Magazine to most of the children’s books in the school library to news feeds on the computer. Life never left Charline behind.
Now she is with her parents and her husband Will. Left to give testimony of the impact she made on our lives are daughters Karen Reynolds (Mark) of Ottawa, Kan., and Jeni Klopfenstein (Rob) of Joplin, Mo.; sisters Marguerite Sieggen of Golden, Colo., Marie Eichelberger of Pueblo, Colo., and Frances Marshall of Westerville, Ohio; grandchildren Stormi Potts (Wyatt), Hunter Potts (Taylor), Hannah Monholland (Berry), Cameron Reynolds (Brooklyn), Taylor Reynolds, and Brandon Reynolds; niece Fawn Brunn (Carrie); nephew Bowen Marshall (Tyler); cousin Michael Beck; and many more family and friends who are better people for having known Charline.
We promised you we would be brave like you. But we are broken. We know you are no longer suffering from the pain in your body or the frustration of what your life had become; we are crying for ourselves, how lost we will be without you. Be at peace, Mama; we’ll see you again one day.
Donations may be made in remembrance of Charline to Angels Care Home Health, 318 S. Main, Ottawa, Kan. 66067.
OBITUARIES
Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025

Linn County News Published June 4, 2025 Gary Ray Johnson, age 90 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on May 28, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Kan. Visitation... [More]
Rees Lyle Shattuck ~ 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025

Linn County News Published May 28, 2025 Rees Lyle Shattuck, age 93, Prescott, Kan., passed away Monday, May 26, 2025. He was born on Aug. 31, 1931, in Boicourt, Kan., the son of Rees Wilbur and Lulu Elizabeth Black Shattuck. He served his country in the United... [More]
Wayne Eldon Long ~ 07-03-1942 to 05-24-2025

Linn County News Published May 28, 2025 Wayne Eldon Long, age 82, of Parker, Kan., passed away on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Wayne was born on July 3, 1942, in Garnett, Kan., the son of Homer Leon and Margaret Ethel (Collins) Long. He was one of three children and... [More]
More Obituaries
- John Ted Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- Zachary Eldon White ~ 06-12-1992 to 04-29-2025
- Rebecca S. Landers 12-30-1964 to 04-18-2025
- Ira Johnathan “Sonny” Robinson ~ 04-10-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Paul Dean Benham ~ 09-23-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Bonnie Faye Bishop ~ 03-25-1949 to 04-22-2025
- Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025
- Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Commission to vote Monday on Parker Center lease

Linn County commissioners plan to vote at their weekly 9 a.m. meeting next Monday, June 2, on a 99-year lease agreement with Parker and their Senior Center building. At Tuesday's weekly Commission meeting, delayed by a day because of Monday's federal Memorial Day observance,... [More]
Despite Chamber loss, Blast in the Park fireworks will go off

Council actions include split vote on deed conveyance Hearing of the disbandment of its local Chamber of Commerce, La Cygne leaders have verbally concurred that the city’s part in the annual Blast in the Park festivities will go on. Following that Chamber notification... [More]
Linn Valley discusses city hall funding sources

The Linn Valley City Council held its bi-monthly meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, with Mayor Lew Donelson presiding and all council members present. Donelson informed the council of two potential opportunities for funding a new City Hall building. ... [More]
More News
- USD 362 board rejects adding bus A/C
- SPECIAL: Blue Mound man seriously injured in accident
- Commissioners make official statement on Tanglewood roads
- La Cygne okays local police firing range
- Mound City council adopts rules for camping
- LCSO releases statement on incident
- Pleasanton requests 1-year automatic aid fire extension
- Commissioners hear update, discuss aid agreement for Pleasanton FD
SPORTS
Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State

The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to West Franklin on May 22 to compete in the 3A Regional. As a team the girls placed 10th with a score of 22.5 points while the boys were fifth with 56 points. This year the top three places in each event qualify for the State meet then... [More]
School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka

The Pleasanton track team traveled to Eureka on May 22 for a 2A Regional track meet. This year the top three places advance to the State meet along the top four times/distances not from the top three from all other Regionals. This year the Jays qualified eight athletes in seven... [More]
More Sports
- Lady Hawks win league as Hawks host TRL meet
- Pleasanton track sets school records at Pioneer League track meet
- Prairie View track sets meet and league records at Wellsville
- Pleasanton baseball splits against Jayhawk
- Prairie View softball defeats Osawatomie and Girard
- Jayhawk baseball earns win over Pleasanton
- Prairie View track has a great day as they host home invitational
- Jayhawk track places top three at Prairie View
OBITUARIES POLICY
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

