Linn County News
Published Feb. 3, 2021
Gary W. Keitel went home to be with the Lord on Jan. 22, 2021. Gary was born on Aug. 5, 1952 in Paola, Kan., to Herman and Madge Keitel.
He went to school at Cadmus, Parker and Prairie View High School (PVHS), graduating with the PVHS class of 1970. He then graduated from Coffeyville Vo. Ag. Junior College, where he continued working and teaching for several years.
Gary met and married Annette Cunningham of Bartlesville, Okla., in 1977. To this union a daughter, Kindra, and a son, Garrett, were born.
In 1987, Gary and family moved to Minneapolis, Kan., where he was a sales representative for Vigortone Feed Company. In 1989, Gary took a job working for McKenzie Cattle Company in Paola, Kan. In 2007, he accepted a job driving for Conway Trucking.
After losing his beloved wife, Annette, to cancer in 2010, Gary met and married Rebecca Shepherd in 2014 and moved to Hartford, Ala. in 2015. Kindra and Garrett are forever grateful to Rebecca for her devoted and loving care of their father during his last years of life.
Gary enjoyed camping, fishing, quail hunting, horses, old gospel music, his big-rig truck and watching movies with his family while eating lots of popcorn. He had an infectious smile and a sweet spirit. A man of faith, he lived by the tenets of hard work and quietly giving without expectation of return.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Madge, and his first wife, Annette. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca; daughter, Kindra; son, Garrett (Angela); brothers, Tom (Connie), Castle Rock, Colo., and David (Julie), Parker; nieces, Melissa (John), Charity and Emilie; nephews, Joshua and Jacob (Anna); great nephew, Ethan; great niece, Ella; close family friends, Edith (Chris) and Danielle (Chad). Also, his precious Cunningham family and many, many friends who will miss him greatly.
A virtual memorial will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021, the details of which can be found at www.garykeitel.com. Gary’s ashes will be interred at a later date in Dewey, Okla., after the current COVID-19 crisis has waned.
OBITUARIES
Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025

Linn County News Published July 23, 2025 Jean Driskell, age 82, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, July 18, 2025. Memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation... [More]
Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Burton Clyde Brownback, age 72, Tri-Ko resident in Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born on May 21, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Clyde and Shirley Drake Brownback. He graduated from Prairie View... [More]
Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Ruth Ann Antrim, formerly Hueston, passed away July 7, 2025, after bravely battling cancer for many years. Ruth Ann was 74 years old. She lived and worked in the Mound City and Fort Scott, Kan., areas her... [More]
More Obituaries
- Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025
- Kelly Kehl ~ 03-25-1938 to 06-28-2025
- Kandi Kay Cruse ~ 03-29-1958 to 06-27-2025
- Jessica Cae Pritchett ~ 08-30-1981 to 06-26-2025
- Jackie Junior “Jack” Hewitt ~ 07-17-1935 to 06-18-2025
- Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025
- Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025
- Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025
NEWS
Special: Resurfacing to begin on U.S. 69 in Linn County

A Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) resurfacing project on U.S. 69 in Linn County will begin the week of July 28. The project will resurface U.S. 69 with ultrathin bonded asphalt for just over 7 miles from Pleasanton to just north of... [More]
Pleasanton FD again at center of heated discussion

The majority of heated discussion came at the end of the Pleasanton City Council meeting Monday night during council discussion when Council people Bill Skipper and Angelina Randall squared off concerning the recent ISO inspection that occurred at the fire department. Skipper... [More]
La Cygne city to be below revenue neutral

Ad valorem revenue will decrease by almost $16,600, levy by over 7.6 mills The city of La Cygne will not only be revenue neutral but actually below neutral on its 2026 municipal budget. That was the report from Jodi Wade, city clerk, at last Wednesday’s regular... [More]
More News
- USD 362 files revenue-neutral exceedances
- Commissioners discuss airport future, request more information
- SPECIAL: Resurfacing on U.S. 59 in Anderson County to begin in August 4
- Commissioners vote to exceed revenue neutral
- Mulberry Limestone CUP approved by P & Z
- SPECIAL: Benefits question an issue for county employees
- Commissioners discuss various budgets
- City learns of fire gear condition
SPORTS
Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship

Eight members of the Pleasanton Trapshooting Team traveled to Mason, Mich., last week to compete in the USA Clay Target League National Championship. Five members participated in the team event, and all eight competed individually. The team was among 264 qualified teams competing... [More]
Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest

The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team 1 places second at the TRL girls’ coach pitch tournament at Colony. The tournament took place from July 7 to July 9.
More Sports
- Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament
- Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship
- Gratton at Nationals
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Summer Ball Tournaments
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship
- Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad
- Prairie View trapshooting competes at State
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

