Linn County News
Published March 16, 2022
Francis Marion Noel, III “Frankie”, age 85, La Cygne, Kan., passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at the home of his daughter Pamela J. Alexander. He was born in Amsterdam, Mo., on Dec. 10, 1936, the son of Francis Marion Noel II and Mildred Laurine Trageser.
He graduated from La Cygne Rural High School in the class of 1954 and from K-State vo-tech top of his class with a sheep shearing degree. He worked in the following areas: shearing sheep, coal miner, sawmill owner, custom hay baler, union carpenter at Iatan powerplant, formed Noel Construction concrete business, dairy farmer, and Noel Rental Properties. He served as Linn County Commissioner in 1971-72. Some of his hobbies were: quilter, fisherman, coon hunter, canner, self-taught keyboard musician, and Winter Texan.
Frankie Noel was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in La Cygne, where he helped build Our Lady of Lourdes in La Cygne and Immaculate Conception in Louisburg.
He married Mary Ellen Stainbrook in Louisburg, Kan., on June 16, 1956, had three sons and three daughters. Mary Ellen and daughter Tammy died in car crash, May 16, 1989.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Pauline Noel, Mary Jane Able; and first wife Mary Ellen Stainbrook Noel and daughter Tammy Jean Noel.
He is survived by his sons, Francis Marion Noel IV (Rita), Vernon Noel, Fred Noel (Peggy); daughters Pauline Troth (Mike), Pamela Alexander (John Scott); two sisters, Patricia Noel and Lois Green; thirteen grandchildren, Sara Swepston (Forest), Jonathan Alexander (Carly), Amiee Evans (Darin), Matthew Troth (Marissa), Jill Driver (Lee), Darcy Ross (Jason), Joseph Noel (Ashleigh), Jeffery Alexander, Melissa Bugni (Chad), Rachel Nelson(Kyle), Mark Noel (Cindy), Eric Noel (Cynthia), Sean Noel (Ashley); twenty-five great-grandchildren.
He married Dottie Maloney Anderson, Dec. 29, 1989, and is survived by Dottie and stepdaughter Kitty Anderson and stepson Thomas Anderson.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 14, 2022, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, La Cygne, Kan. Burial in Oak Lawn Cemetery. The rosary will be prayed 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation will follow from 3 to 5 p.m. at the La Cygne Chapel. If you have a quilt that Frankie made, please feel free to bring it to the visitation for display. Contributions are suggested to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church or the Altar Society. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Janice Geyer ~ 03-14-1955 to 06-16-2026
Linn County News Published June 24, 2026 Janice Geyer, 71, of Moberly, Mo., passed away on June 16, 2026. She was born on March 14, 1955, in Kansas City, Kan., the daughter of Donald and Carol Cline. Janice graduated from Shawnee Mission Northwest High School... [More]
Craig Alan Wood ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-18-2026
Linn County News Published June 24, 2026 Craig Alan Wood, age 74, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Thursday, June 18, 2026. He was born on June 20, 1951, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Virgil Leon "Ab" and Delma Dorene (Brown) Wood. He graduated from Prescott... [More]
Adam Lee Johnston April 9, 1969 — June 9, 2026
Linn County News Published June 17, 2026 Adam Lee Johnston, 57, passed away in his residence in Linn Valley, Kan., on June 9, 2026. Linn Valley had been Adam’s home for several years; he built a cabin by Linn Valley Lake and spent his days building, playing music, and... [More]
More Obituaries
- Steven Edwin Lindsey August 10, 1943 — June 9, 2026
- Lance Robert Minchew ~ 07-26-1971 to 04-24-2026
- Jackie Ray “Jack” Harris ~ 12-04-1950 to 05-21-2026
- Clara Mae “Butch” Heflin ~ 04-18-1946 to 05-28-2026
- Gwendolyn Joanne Bradley ~ 02-08-1936 to 05-15-2026
- George W. Ernst III ~ 08-06-1942 to 05-25-2026
- Ruth Ellen Stainbrook ~ 02-12-1933 to 05-16-2026
- Gary Wayne Simpson ~ 01-17-1952 to 05-13-2026
NEWS
La Cygne Council readies for Blast in the Park
The La Cygne Council met Wednesday, June 17 and learned that plans for the annual Blast in the Park are ongoing for Saturday, July 11. The annual wiener-dog race will begin at 6 p.m. at the park with fireworks scheduled for dark. Events are planned throughout the evening. Police... [More]
City of Pleasanton clerk resigns
Word was received Tuesday, June 23 of the resignation of Pleasanton’s City Clerk who formally posted her resignation Friday, June 19. Candy Houtman had been city clerk since the retirement/resignation of former City Administrator Becky Hegwald who left after the council... [More]
Linn Valley discusses data center tour, battery storage
The Linn Valley City Council held its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2026, with Mayor Lister Potter presiding with all council members present except Council President Michael Hemphill. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and an opening prayer... [More]
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- A blink into the past 250th Anniversary Edition
- Mound City discusses pet vaccination clinics
- Pleasanton pride, lack of mowing discussed Monday
- Commissioners approve county employee insurance package
SPORTS
Red, White & Blue and Bulls bullfighting July 4
What started as a dream of having a bullfight in his backyard has mushroomed to nationwide bullfighting events for Dakota Knight, Lebo, Kan. Knight, husband of Brileigh (Ware) Knight, began the bull fighting/breeding operation in 2020, that after winning 3rd place in the Worlds... [More]
Prairie View trapshooting brings home individual championships and team trophies
The Prairie View trapshooting team traveled to Wichita this past weekend to compete in the 2026 Kansas State High School Clay Target League 2A State tournament. The Buffalos did very well at the event as they claimed two team State trophies. The Junior Varsity squad placed... [More]
Three Rivers All League baseball announced
The Three Rivers League named their All League baseball teams recently and both Pleasanton and Jayhawk had players on the teams. Jayhawk and Pleasanton had one player each on the first team and one player each as honorable mention. Easton White of Jayhawk and Mario Davis of... [More]
More Sports
- Three Rivers League announces All League softball team
- 2026 TRL All League Golf
- Patrick leads Pleasanton track with multiple medals
- Schwarz, Stevens, and Browning represent Prairie View at State track
- Jayhawk track competes at 3A State
- Prairie View track qualifies three athletes for State
- Jayhawk track qualifies eight for State
- Pleasanton track qualifies six for State
OBITUARIES POLICY
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com
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