October 23, 2018

Linn County News

Published Oct. 24, 2018

Ira Clayton Mundell, age 78, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, at his home surrounded by family. He was born at Centerville, Kan., on Aug. 29, 1940, the son of Owen Clayton Mundell and Elizabeth Celestine (McMenamy) Mundell. 

At the age of 3, his family moved to Pleasanton, where he attended school and graduated in 1958. He enjoyed telling all his grandkids that he did not need to go to college because he got his “higher” education on top the hill in Pleasanton.

After graduating from Pleasanton High School, he went to work for Smith-Miller blacktopping. The next summer, he went to work for Columbia Steel Tank. In the fall of 1959 he went to work for Flint Ink Co. in Kansas City.

On Dec. 11, 1959, he married Mary Leola Conley, his high school sweetheart. They resided in Pleasanton until March of 1960 when they moved to Olathe, where their son Leonard Owen was born in 1960. In January of 1961 they moved to Kansas City, Kan., where Deloris Marie was born in 1964. They resided there until January 1965 when they moved down to the family farm, which Ira referred to as “living in the suburbs of Boicourt.” There he farmed several acres of cropland and raised cattle. After Lonna Kay was born in the spring of 1968, he started work on the Frisco Railroad in August. With three kids he decided he needed a better job than gambling on farming. His railroad career spanned almost 35 years. He went from working for Frisco until it was acquired by Burlington Northern in 1980, which in turn merged with the Santa Fe in 1995 to become the BNSF (which according to him stood for Been Nothing Since Frisco) from which he retired in June 2002.

Through the years, he was a member of the Lions Club, Jay C’s, and served on the Valley Township Cemetery Board. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a granddaughter, Bailey Mundell. 

Ira is survived by his wife Leola; a son, Leonard Mundell and wife Sue; two daughters, Deloris “Ralph” Perrymann and husband Terry, and Lonna Crook and husband Joe; a sister, Rose Miller; eight grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and one on the way; and many who were considered family, including Korey Kilgroe and wife Susie and their children and grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Burial was in the Riverview Cemetery.  

Contributions are suggested to Linn County Care to Share. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.