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Linn County News

Published July 19, 2023

 

Glen Robert "Bob" Brownback, age 92, of Garnett, Kan., formerly of Parker, Kan., passed away on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at the Rock Creek Care Home in Ottawa, Kan.

Bob was born on Feb. 3, 1931, on a farm near Harris, Kan. He was the third of four children born to Orville Glen and Leora M. (Ellington) Brownback. Bob's family moved to a farm near Centerville in 1932. Bob graduated from Parker High School in 1948. The official records may not have a picture of Bob as "the" Kansas farmer, but that may be appropriate if it did. He may have struggled to remember a birthday, but he could always recount the crop they raised in whatever year was being discussed. According to family records, Bob first drove a tractor at the age of nine. Visitors to the Parker Museum can search for a newspaper article telling of the Brownback boys (Bob and Billy) breaking a tractor in half.

On Oct. 1, 1950, Bob was united in marriage to Nancy Cowden at the First Presbyterian Church in Osawatomie, Kan. Their union was blessed with four children, Mary, Alan, Sam, and Jim. Bob and Nancy made their home on their farm east of Parker in 1953. Bob was a lifelong farmer and he only left the farm under duress when he was no longer able to get on to the tractor or the combine. They moved to Garnett in 2019 and Bob found joy in watching the birds and squirrels in the yard in town. In his free time, Bob enjoyed watching any John Wayne movie or every single episode of Gunsmoke. On the farm he loved his John Deere tractors, even though he thought the green paint was too expensive.

Bob was generous with his time away from the farm, serving on local boards, including the Parker and Prairie View School Boards, and the American State Bank board, Osawatomie. He loved their opportunities to travel. He especially enjoyed Las Vegas, cruises, and their trips traveling to Russia, Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Iceland, and Egypt. Bob instilled the value of an education in his family and was proud of the generations of his family that pursued higher education. His work ethic will be remembered by all who knew him, it was said that he would have worked in the nursing home, if they would have allowed it. He took pride in his farming operation, tending to his land and equipment constantly. Throughout his life, he faced many challenges with his health, in spite of the challenges he was always a fighter. In the end Bob's dementia was a challenge for the last few years of his life, but his love of his family and wanting to talk farming still remained.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bill Brownback, and wife, Charlene; grandson, Scott Hazard; son-in-law, Ray Bakker; great-granddaughter, Amelie Brownback; and two brothers-in-law, Clayton Hodgson, and Bill Cowden.

Bob is survived by his wife of 72 years, Nancy Brownback, of the home; his children and their families, Mary Jewett and husband, Mike of Mesa, Ariz., Alan and wife, Nancy of Lyndon, Kan., Sam and wife, Mary of Topeka, Kan., and Jim and wife, Vickie of Parker, Kan.; 19 grandchildren; and 40 great-grandchildren (with more on the way).

Memorial services are planned for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at the Parker United Methodist Church, 403 W. Kimball, Parker, Kan. Bob's family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett, Kan. In lieu of flowers, Bob's family encourages taking a friend to lunch in honor of Bob. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.

OBITUARIES

Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025

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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

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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

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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]

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PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

SPECIAL: Commission to vote Monday on Parker Center lease

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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

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Linn Valley discusses city hall funding sources

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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]

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SPORTS

Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State

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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

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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]

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

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