John Donald Riggs Jr. of Parker, Kan., was born Feb. 2, 1931, and went home to be with the Lord Jan. 30, 2016, to be reunited with his wife Osee.
John and Osee were high school sweethearts at Parker High School. During his senior year, John played center for the Linn County Champs. He was offered a scholarship to attend and play football for Emporia State University, but instead decided to get married and start his family with Osee. John and Osee were united in marriage Dec. 17, 1950, and were blessed with six children. John and Osee made their home in Kansas City, Kan., where they raised their family.
John started working in 1950 for Sealright, Inc. out of Kansas City, Kan. He started as a maintenance man and worked his way up to supervisor. He worked for Sealright, Inc. for 42 years until he decided to retire in 1993.
In 1993, after John retired, he and Osee moved back to Parker and built a home on the family farm. John and Osee were very active in the Parker community, volunteering for Boy Scouts, the Parker Museum, the Parker Historical Society, the local food pantry and the Parker United Methodist Church.
John was always an avid outdoorsman. He took his children camping, hunting, and fishing. He was outside as often as possible. In the spring and summer he would help Osee with a big garden where they grew various vegetables. They canned things like salsa, jellies and vegetables. John was known to make fudge for years. He even sent fudge to his cousin, who was in a submarine, during the Vietnam War. During basketball season you could find John watching the KU basketball team. He loved telling his kids and grandkids stories and he was very good at it.
John was preceded in death by his loving wife Osee Ellen (White) Riggs; daughters, Linda Riggs and Nancy Green; his parents John Riggs Sr. and Elsie (Petty) Riggs Cresson; twin brother, James Riggs; half-brother, Ray Riggs; and half-sister, Laura Bell Atkinson.
He is survived by his sons, John III (Molly) of La Cygne, Kan., Joseph (LaVeda) of La Cygne, Kan., James (Sarah) Fort Scott, Kan., and Jeffrey (Kristin) of Louisburg, Kan.; half-sisters, Darlene (Sonny) Carroll of Garden City, Kan., and Laurna Pendergraft of Lakeland, Florida. John is also survived by his loving grandchildren, Jo Anne Bair, Joshua Riggs, Erika Laney, Justin Riggs, Jessica Stiles, Joey Riggs, RaeAnna Riggs, Jedidiah Riggs, Billy Gooderl, Julie Burk, and Jesse Funk in addition to 20 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be 11-12 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Service will follow at the Parker United Methodist Church, Parker, Kan.
Burial will be in Cadmus Cemetery, Cadmus, Kan.
Memorials are suggested to Boy Scouts of America and may be sent in c/o Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home, P.O. Box 430, Osawatomie, Ks 66064
OBITUARIES
John Clayton Bowman ~ 02-01-1944 to 08-17-2025

Linn County News Published August 20, 2025 John Clayton Bowman, age 81, Parker, Kan., passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. He was born on Feb. 1, 1944, in Goodrich, Kan., the son of John Thomas “Tom” Bowman and Carrie Theodoshia Shafer Bowman. John attended... [More]
Arnold Joseph Lickteig ~ 05-16-1931 to 07-31-2025

Linn County News Published August 6, 2025 Arnold Joseph Lickteig, age 94, formerly of Greeley, Kan., passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Colonial Oaks Senior Living at Spring Hill in Spring Hill, Kan. Arnie was born on May 16, 1931, on a farm east of Greeley,... [More]
Joe W. Mann ~ 09-02-1951 to 07-26-2025

Linn County News Published July 30, 2025 Joe W. Mann, age 73 of La Cygne, Kan., passed away at his home on Saturday, July 26, 2025. There are no services scheduled at this time. Contributions are suggested to the Schneider Funeral Home and may be sent... [More]
More Obituaries
- 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
- 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
NEWS
Linn County News website gets new update

Recently you may have seen our notification on our website or our Facebook page that we were undergoing some changes on our website at www.linncountynews.net. We here at the News are happy to announce those changes are nearly complete. Changes to the website include an easier... [More]
Commissioners vote 1-1 on motion to not exceed revenue neutral

County now required to cut budget to meet the RNR rate BY $837,000 The Linn County commissioners, with Commissioner Jason Hightower absent, began the revenue neutral hearing on Monday, Aug. 25, by welcoming those in the audience and stating the purpose and objective... [More]
Linn Valley looks at option for fire truck purchase, new vehicles

The Linn Valley City Council held a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, with Mayor Lew Donelson presiding and all council members present except for John Weers. City Attorney James Brun was also present. The meeting began with a presentation by city’s financial... [More]
More News
- Sheriff speaks out on employee benefits
- Jayhawk Blast set for Saturday, Sept. 6
- Pleasanton Council readies city for General Pleasonton Days
- Parker 2026 city budget could exceed revenue neutral
- La Cygne proceeds with facilities improvement
- Economic Development Director resigns
- Pleasanton moves forward with streets plan
- USD 344 adopts new cell phone policy
SPORTS
Frog gigging a new ‘old sport’

It’s another one of those…So…stories. So, last weekend was an adventure. I’ve gotten involved with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Wild Foods Academy (WFA) that is a pilot program designed to educate many ‘left-0ut’ people’s... [More]
Fishing Derby kicks off at Linn County Fair

The annual Linn County Fair and Rodeo Fishing Derby was held on the morning of Aug. 9. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks fish biologist Don George has been heading the derby since 1987 and this year was no different. The derby was divided into three age... [More]
Linn County Farm Bureau hosts annual pedal pull

The Linn County Farm Bureau Association hosted the annual kids’ pedal pull on the evening of Aug. 8. Kids 4 to 12 can compete in the event for a chance to earn a spot at the State pedal pull at Hutchinson. Trophies and a place at the State fair was awarded to the... [More]
More Sports
- 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
- PV Cheer has strong performances at UCA Summer Camp 2025
- Nobodys wins Blue Mound co-ed softball tournament
- Pleasanton 12-14 baseball wins championship
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
