Linn County News
Published May 1, 2019
Lawrence Olin Tinsley, 91, of Paola, Kan., died Friday, April 19, 2019, surrounded by family. He was born July 31, 1927, in Bronson, Kan., the second of four children, to Charles Samuel Tinsley and Leota May (Williams) Tinsley.
He graduated from Parker High School in 1945. He attended Fort Scott Junior College.
He met the love of his life, Jacqueline Marie (Day) Tinsley, while studying at Fort Scott, Kan. Lawrence and Jackie married on June 5, 1950, in Fort Scott.
He proudly served first in the United States Maritime Service and then in the U.S. Army, for over four years. Lawrence served two years in Manila, Philippines. He was called back into service from the Army Reserves after he and Jackie were married, serving another 10 months and 20 days in Korea during the early months of the war. His units included the X Corps and the 24th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Commendation Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the Korean Service Medal with Three Bronze Service Stars, and a medal from the president of the Republic of Korea. He was honorably separated from active duty on 29 October 1951 with the rank of master sergeant.
Lawrence graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business from Pittsburg State College in 1954. He and Jackie became parents of three children, Mark Charles, Lawrence Kenton and Randall James. Lawrence’s career included being an accountant and owner/operator of a bowling alley, a family affair, with the help of his spouse, parents, sister and sons. His longest career was his work for Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, primarily in Miami County and Crawford County, Kan.
When he retired from social work in 1987, he and Jackie became “Winter Texans” in Zapata for approximately 10 years. His joys were golfing, bowling and his children, Mark (Cindy) and Larry (Mary), and his grandchildren, Heidi Nichole (Tinsley) Shulista (Bob), Nathaniel S.S. Tinsley (Jennifer), Micheal Lawrence Tinsley (Kayla) and Raechelle Marie Tinsley. His greatest joy was the love of his precious wife, Jackie.
After retirement Lawrence enjoyed genealogy research, during which he discovered very interesting ancestral members that he treasured. Most especially, there were 17 Branstetter cousins, one of whom was Lawrence’s great grandfather, Thomas L. Branstetter, who enlisted together in the Missouri Union Cavalry on April 19, 1863, in a cause for freedom. His great, great grandfather, Wheeler Branch Southwick, died while serving with the Union Army of the Potomac in 1864 during the Civil War. As much as he was proud of his ancestral history of freedom fighting and his own, Lawrence espoused the belief that the “love” of war should never become a family value. He also found that one of his grandmothers, Emma Jane Williams, was a descendant of Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick, who as Quakers endured seizure of their Peabody, Mass., homestead and glass factory, along with being exiled from the mainland due to the greed and religious persecution of the early 1600s.
Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; his two siblings, Lloyd Author and Catherine Charlene; his son, Randy; and his spouse of 65 years, Jackie.
He is survived by his sons, Mark (Cindy) and Larry (Mary); his sister, Charlotte (Tinsley) Earley (Gary); and his four grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild, along with many nieces, nephews and other friends and relatives.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations to be made to VFW in Paola.
A memorial service and military honors will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 13, 2019, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola. Burial of ashes will be at a later date in Fort Scott National Cemetery, Fort Scott.
To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.DengelMortuary.com. Dengel & Son Paola Chapel, 305 N. Pearl St., Paola, KS 66071, 913-294-2372.
OBITUARIES
Clarence Lee Miller ~ 08-07-1962 to 05-08-2024
Linn County News Published May 20, 2024 Clarence Lee Miller, age 61, La Cygne, Kan., passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, May 10, 2024, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Burial will... [More]
Ruby M. Nielson ~ 01-21-1932 to 04-27-2024
Linn County News Published May 8, 2024 Ruby M. Nielson, 92, of Berryton, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at a Burlington, Kan., hospital. A Celebration of Ruby’s Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Dove Southeast Chapel, 2843 SE Minnesota... [More]
Patty Conklin ~ 08-31-1932 to 04-26-2024
Linn County News Published May 1, 2024 Patty Conklin age 91 of Parker, Kan., died Friday, April 26, 2024, at Good Samaritan’s in Olathe, Kan. Visitation will be from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Thursday May 2, followed by service at 11:30 a.m., all at First Baptist Church... [More]
More Obituaries
- Robert “Bob” Eugene Markley ~ 04-11-1936 to 04-15-2024
- Ronald Joe Smith ~ 05-10-1944 to 04-11-2024
- Mary Tinsley ~ 12-15-1935 to 04-09-2024
- Frederick John “Fritz” Johanning, Jr. ~ 08-10-1948 to 03-26-2024
- Doris Maxine Basore ~ 01-02-1920 to 03-10-2024
- Janice (Good) Waltmire ~ 08-20-1937 to 03-09-2024
- Richard Lee Strader ~ 06-08-1974 to 02-24-24
- Robert William Harper, Jr. ~ 07-14-1947 to 02-24-2024
NEWS
Commissioners hear reports on Hell’s Bend Bridge
Discussions turn to other road issues Linn County Public Works Administrator Shawn West reported to Commissioners on the Hell’s Bend bridge project noting in particular the rising costs associated with the repair, as well as what makes Hell’s Bend a priority... [More]
La Cygne Fire Station ribbon cutting held
The culmination of months to years of preparation, saving and work came together Saturday, May 4 as the La Cygne Fire Station ribbon cutting was held and the community was invited to see the finished product. A large grill was set up outside of what will be the maintenance... [More]
Evergy reps speak about bridges at commissioners’ meeting
Kyle Lewis, Director of Operations at the La Cygne Generating Station, and Robert Hollinsworth, Plant Manager at La Cygne Generating Station spoke to commissioners on Monday, May 6, regarding two bridges in the county that the company currently owns and maintains. Lewis explained... [More]
More News
- Special: U.S. 69 resurfacing project starts this week
- Special: Governor issues State of Disaster Emergency proclamation for approaching severe weather
- Commissioners hear damage report, declare county as state, local disaster site
- Mayor vetoes vacating 7th Street off of Main
- USD 362 to wait on admin addition
- Commissioners appoint new county counselor
- La Cygne accepts desludging cost
- USD 362 sets capacity numbers
SPORTS
Jayhawk and Pleasanton baseball split in double header
The Pleasanton baseball team traveled to Jayhawk Linn on April 30 to play in a Three Rivers League double-header against their county rivals. The Jays had the better first game as they won 14-4. Both offenses were performing the second game but this time the Hawks got the better... [More]
Prairie View softball goes 4-0 against Osawatomie and Girard
The Prairie View softball team faced Osawatomie and Girard this past week. They hosted Osawatomie on April 30 and won both games of a double-header 11-0 and 13-3. They traveled to Girard on May 3 for another double-header and won both games 6-1 and 6-2. The first game against... [More]
More Sports
- Prairie View track takes top two places at Jayhawk
- Pleasanton track has a school record mark set at Jayhawk Invitational
- Prairie View softball goes 4-2 in busy week
- Pleasanton baseball sweeps St. Paul and Oswego
- Jayhawk baseball splits against Southeast Cherokee
- Prairie View track has strong performance at Anderson County
- Jayhawk track wins Pleasanton Invitational
- Pleasanton track hosts home invitational
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com