05-02-1918 to 09-09-2019
Linn County News
Published Sept. 11, 2019
In the weeks following Pearl Harbor, as the U.S. prepared to go to war, Lee Fisher enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was hustled through their officer training course – a “90-day wonder,” as they called it. When he passed away this week at age 101, peacefully, in his sleep, he was a wonder of a different sort.
Asked on his 100th birthday how he managed to live to such a remarkable age, Lee replied, “Moderation. In all things.”
Lee was born May 2, 1918, in Pleasanton, Kan., the only son of Ruth and William Fisher. He graduated from Mound City Rural High School in Mound City, Kan., in 1935 as class salutatorian. There is a good chance that he said more in his speech than most of his classmates had heard him say all term long. He was a sweet, thoughtful man who listened more than he spoke – yet, the words he chose to share with the world were always worth hearing.
Lee moved to Colorado in 1937, attending DU and graduating with a B.A. in business administration. He was studying engineering at the Colorado School of Mines when the war broke out. Engineers of Lee’s evident skills were prized by the U.S. Navy, and following his officer’s training at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., they wasted no time sending Ensign Fisher to GM University in Illinois to learn large-scale landing craft engines (they’d eventually play a part in the Normandy Invasion). He was quickly promoted to lieutenant and posted to Pacific Fleet headquarters, Coronado, Calif.
Among his duties were maintenance and logistics, which often took him across the bay to the navy offices in San Diego. It was there he met the love of his life.
Jean Stalnaker was in the secretarial pool; she’d see Lee when he came to meet with one of her bosses.
“She made it so that I’d get her phone number,” said Lee.
She wrote it on a piece of paper, and had one of the guys give it to him. He called her, and they hit it off.
Jean lived in San Diego, in a house overlooking the bay. As Lee told it, “In those days, you took a ferry to get back and forth from Coronado. Either that, or you drove 25 miles down the coast to Imperial Beach and back up the Coronado peninsula to get to the base.” Lee would laugh to think of the times he stayed a bit too long pitching woo on Jean’s front porch, only to find himself making that long drive back to his quarters.
He may have occasionally missed the ferry, but he surely didn’t miss the boat. In September 1944 he saved up his gas rations, and he and Jean headed for Las Vegas. There, in the Little White Wedding Chapel, they were married. They remained so for 66 happy years, until Jean passed in 2010.
Lee’s first job post-war was for Sears, in Santa Monica. His boss left a lot to be desired. “Everything that went wrong was my fault, including things he did wrong.” His mom’s cousin put him in touch with a gasoline distributor in Oceanside, and he and Jean moved south. That was more to his liking, and he began learning the trade. When he was given the opportunity to take over the Ace Hi Service Station in Wheat Ridge, Colo., he jumped at it. He survived early gas wars – the prices dropped to pennies per gallon! – and countless giveaway promotions of steak knives, matching tumblers and kiddie toys. He built a reputation for honesty and mechanical skill, earning a loyal clientele that served him well, until his retirement in 1973.
Lee and Jean kept a cabin in Evergreen, Colo., roaming through the woods with one of a series of beloved bulldogs. He honed his talents as a woodworker, making furniture and toys for his nephews’ children and his godsons. His favorite hobby was restoring classic Thunderbirds; he had three over the years, which made those grown-up nephews and godsons incredibly jealous.
Lee was a remarkable man. He radiated sweetness, warmth and good humor. His words were few. His impact on those lucky enough to know him, immeasurable. He will be deeply mourned and greatly missed.
Lee is survived by niece Laura, nephew Neil Stalnaker (Nancy), nephew Mike Pitts (Ann), and fondly remembered by godsons Sean and Schuyler Cayton.
Visitation is 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 16. Services are at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17. Both are at Crown Hill Mortuary, 7777 West 29th, Wheat Ridge, Colo. The service will be held in the Tower of Memories, where he’ll be laid to rest.
OBITUARIES
Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith ~ 11-19-1935 to 06-07-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Priscilla “Pat” Haney Smith passed away Saturday June 7, 2025, at the Stoneybrook Retirement Community in Manhattan. She was born on Nov. 19, 1935, in Topeka, Kan., to Neil and Gladys (Goldsmith)... [More]
Ron Arbogast ~ 08-31-1946 to 06-05-2025

Linn County News Published July 2, 2025 Ron Arbogast, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on June 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Born Aug. 31, 1946, in Fort Scott, Kan.,... [More]
Richard “Dick” Smith ~ 04-18-1942 to 06-22-2025

Linn County News Published June 25, 2025 Richard "Dick" Smith, age 83, formerly of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away in Olathe, Kan., on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Graveside Service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2025, at the Pleasanton Cemetery. Contributions... [More]
More Obituaries
- Charles Edwin Sutterby ~ 06-20-1951 to 06-19-2025
- Windfred Allen DeMott ~ 09-15-1940 to 06-07-2025
- Maxine Breuel ~ 11-20-1926 to 06-07-2025
- Richard Paul Henderson ~ 07-26-1950 to 06-01-2025
- Rees Lyle Shattuck 08-31-1931 to 05-26-2025
- Dixie Bradley Wilkerson 10-15-1939 to 05-30-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
- Gary Ray Johnson ~ 03-10-1935 to 05-28-2025
NEWS
NOTICE:

Due to a scheduling conflict, the commissioners will not be meeting today, June 25th, for a second budget workshop. The meeting has been rescheduled for July 2nd.
Tanglewood Lakes files suit against Board of County Commissioners

Requests declaratory judgement that roads are private The Tanglewood Lakes Owners Association, Inc. (TLOA), filed a lawsuit in Linn County District Court on June 6, 2025, against the Linn County Board of County Commissioners requesting a declaratory judgement from... [More]
Case filed alleging exploitation of minors, breach of privacy

On June 20, following an extensive investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, the Linn County Attorney’s Office filed a case in district court charging Erik Hellner, a Sugar Valley Lakes resident, with six separate felonies. The case originally stems from... [More]
More News
- La Cygne executes pool bond defeasance
- CANCELED: Statewide Purple Alert issued for missing Yates Center woman
- Parker mayor seeks affidavits to file charges
- USD 346 board learns of overpayments
- NOTICE
- Commissioners discuss estimate on overlay project
- Pleasanton council meeting heated over fire personnel interviews
- La Cygne gas customers may see rate decrease
SPORTS
Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team places seventh at State, Wallace earns State championship

The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Wichita to compete in the Kansas Trapshooting State tournament. The tournament features more than 110 high schools and over 1,500 student athletes. Pleasanton/Jayhawk compete in the 2A competition which happened on June... [More]
Joey Ewalt impacting youth wrestling here and abroad

Prairie View’s head boys’ wrestling Coach Joey Ewalt does more for the sport than just coaching the Buffalos, he has made an impact on the sport as a wrestler, coach and official. Ewalt began his wrestling career at the very young age of four. His father, Mike Ewalt,... [More]
More Sports
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk baseball on the 2025 All TRL team
- Jayhawk Linn softball has three All TRL unanimous selections
- Trenton Broyles leads Hawks at State track
- Prairie View track earns six medals at State
- Pleasanton’s Gratton wins two golds, sets meet record
- Jayhawk track breaks another school record and qualifies multiple athletes for State
- School records and State qualifiers are made for the Jays at Eureka
- Prairie View track qualifies multiple athletes for State
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

