Linn County News
Published July 28, 2021
James Allen Johnson, age 72, of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan., after a brief illness.
Allen was born on July 7, 1949, at Moran, Kan., the son of Leroy Robert Raymond Johnson and Ruby Matilda (Nelson) Johnson. He grew up in the Elsmore, Kan., area and attended Elsmore Grade School and graduated from Marmaton Valley High School in 1967. Allen was an outstanding athlete and played football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from Allen County Community College and received a bachelor of education degree from Pittsburg State University. He taught and coached in various schools in Kansas for many years. After his teaching career, he worked in sales and manufacturing.
Allen married Terri Lynne Wilson on Oct. 25, 1987, in Elsmore. They were blessed with two sons, Daniel Joseph and Samuel Dean. Allen loved his family and was so proud of his sons and their families. He loved his grandchildren, Kipling Alan, Ivy May and Olivia Ann. Allen was always an unwavering supporter of his wife and always stood by her side.
Allen was a sports fan, particularly of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. He was very interested in world events and enjoyed watching the History Channel and Fox News. He also loved visiting with friends and family and in recent years particularly enjoyed going to the Elks Lodge in Nevada, Mo., with friend Richard Perry.
Allen is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Raymond Lorraine, Charles Dean, Robert Lee and Raymond Edward; and sisters Phyllis Jean and Amaryllis Ann.
He is survived by his wife, Terri; his sons, Daniel and his wife Stephanie of South Amboy, N.J., and Samuel and his wife Lauren of Leawood, Kan.; sisters Pauline JoAnn Wolfe of Savonburg, Kan., and Donna Arlene Franklin and husband Robert Franklin of Shawnee, Kan.; sisters-in-law Judith Wilson, Kandi Wilson and Patricia Johnson of Chanute, Kan.; brothers-in-law William Wilson of Walnut, Kan., William Otto and wife JoNita of LeRoy, Kan., and Thomas Breiner of Knightdale, N.C.; three grandchildren, Kipling Alan Johnson, Ivy May Johnson and Olivia Ann Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Rev. Kevin Moyers and Pastor Ralph Peters will conduct funeral services at 11 a.m. Friday, July 30, at the Elsmore United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Elsmore Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Elsmore United Methodist Church and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kan. 66701.
OBITUARIES
Jackie “Jack” Howard Shroyer ~ 01-24-1940 to 09-04-2025

Linn County News Published September 10, 2025 Jackie "Jack" Howard Shroyer, age 85 of Prescott, Kan., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Jack was born the son of Eugene and Lillie Ruth (Blangy) Shroyer on Jan. 24, 1940, in Prescott, Kan. He... [More]
Wallace “Mack” Probasco ~ 07-05-1959 to 09-02-2025

Linn County News Published September 10, 2025 Wallace “Mack” Probasco, age 66 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away at his home on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. He was born the son of Francis Mack and Edna E. Wallace Probasco on July 5, 1959, in Fort Scott,... [More]
Martha F. Couch ~ 01-03-1929 to 07-18-2025

Linn County News Published September 10, 2025 It is with much sorrow that the family of Martha Frasier Couch, a woman of deep faith and compassion, shares the news that she passed away peacefully on July 18, 2025, just months after the passing of her husband, Keith,... [More]
More Obituaries
- George Teagarden ~ 01-30-1943 to 09-01-2025
- John Clayton Bowman ~ 02-01-1944 to 08-17-2025
- Arnold Joseph Lickteig ~ 05-16-1931 to 07-31-2025
- Joe W. Mann ~ 09-02-1951 to 07-26-2025
- Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025
- Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025
- Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025
- Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025
NEWS
Property taxes and how they work

In Kansas, there is a definitive process for determining what the property taxes are on any given piece of property. Did you know that according to SmartAsset.com Linn County has the second lowest property tax average in the entire state? According to information available... [More]
Pleasanton Fire Department personnel hiring questioned

What started out as a department update from Pleasanton Fire Chief Jeff Wisdom, turned into a showdown between councilmembers and the mayor in who was hired as volunteer firefighters in Pleasanton. Wisdom informed the council he was beginning training for new firefighters September... [More]
Commission ‘bares’ down to pass public nudity ban

Linn County commissioners passed a resolution banning public nudity at its Sept. 2 weekly meeting, delayed a day for the governmental Labor Day holiday. Resolution No. 2025-16, enacted on a 2-0 vote with Alison Hamilton not present, forbids nudity on public property or outside... [More]
More News
- Paris Township voting location to move to Mound City
- USD 362 passes 2025-26 school budget
- Parker appoints police chief
- SPECIAL: Drainpipe replacement on K-31 in Linn County
- Linn County News website gets new update
- Commissioners vote 1-1 on motion to not exceed revenue neutral
- Linn Valley looks at option for fire truck purchase, new vehicles
- Sheriff speaks out on employee benefits
SPORTS
Alvarez leads Pleasanton cross country

The Pleasanton cross country team traveled to Garnett for their first meet of the year on Sept. 4 at the Annual Jerry Howarter Invitational. The Jays had runners in both the junior high and high school races. Dominic Alvarez led the Hawks as he earned a medal and placed... [More]
Jayhawk football starts season with shutout over Central Heights

The Jayhawk Linn football team traveled to Fort Scott on Sept. 5 to host the Central Heights Vikings for their first game of the season. This was supposed to be a home game for the Hawks but had to be played at Fort Scott because the field was not ready. The game began with... [More]
Spradling era kicks off with oohhs and 'Oz'
Jason Spradling's head coaching era at Prairie View debuted with plenty of oohhs and 'Oz' Friday night. The oohhs came from an offensive running attack that amassed 612 rushing yards, all but 99 in the first half, and saw Buffalo four-year starters Parker Schwarz gain 287 yards... [More]
More Sports
- Frog gigging a new ‘old sport’
- Fishing Derby kicks off at Linn County Fair
- Linn County Farm Bureau hosts annual pedal pull
- From the Bleachers – 717
- Annual demo derby kicks off this year’s Linn County Fair and Rodeo
- From the Bleachers - 719
- Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship
- Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest
OBITUARIES POLICY
• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
• Must be received by 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning in order to appear in that week's edition.
• Obituaries submitted by funeral homes will be billed to the funeral home.
• Full obituaries submitted by individuals are required to be paid in advance.
• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com
