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

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

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

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]
More Obituaries
- John Ted Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- Zachary Eldon White ~ 06-12-1992 to 04-29-2025
- Rebecca S. Landers 12-30-1964 to 04-18-2025
- Ira Johnathan “Sonny” Robinson ~ 04-10-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Paul Dean Benham ~ 09-23-1944 to 04-26-2025
- Bonnie Faye Bishop ~ 03-25-1949 to 04-22-2025
- Lois A. Murray ~ 11-03-1931 to 04-20-2025
- Dr. Howard F. Wilson ~ 02-05-1938 to 04-20-2025
NEWS
SPECIAL: Commission to vote Monday on Parker Center lease

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

Council actions include split vote on deed conveyance Hearing of the disbandment of its local Chamber of Commerce, La Cygne leaders have verbally concurred that the city’s part in the annual Blast in the Park festivities will go on. Following that Chamber notification... [More]
Linn Valley discusses city hall funding sources

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]
More News
- USD 362 board rejects adding bus A/C
- SPECIAL: Blue Mound man seriously injured in accident
- Commissioners make official statement on Tanglewood roads
- La Cygne okays local police firing range
- Mound City council adopts rules for camping
- LCSO releases statement on incident
- Pleasanton requests 1-year automatic aid fire extension
- Commissioners hear update, discuss aid agreement for Pleasanton FD
SPORTS
Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State

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

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]
More Sports
- Lady Hawks win league as Hawks host TRL meet
- Pleasanton track sets school records at Pioneer League track meet
- Prairie View track sets meet and league records at Wellsville
- Pleasanton baseball splits against Jayhawk
- Prairie View softball defeats Osawatomie and Girard
- Jayhawk baseball earns win over Pleasanton
- Prairie View track has a great day as they host home invitational
- Jayhawk track places top three at Prairie View
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

