Linn County News
Published July 6, 2022
Leslie (Les) Eugene Krull, 85, of Berryton, died Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at Prairie Winds Senior Living, in Berryton, Kan. He was born June 9, 1937, to Eugene and Roberta “Pauline” (Townsley) Krull at home in Mound City, Kan. The family then moved to a farm outside nearby Blue Mound, Kan., where he attended elementary and high school, excelling in every sport and graduating as valedictorian in 1955.
Les was offered full scholarships to both West Point and Kansas State. He chose the latter, playing four seasons of football “both ways” – as quarterback on offense and as safety on defense – and lettering his junior and senior seasons. Les received individual recognition for the 1958 season as a “Wildcat” senior, including All Big 8 Honorable Mention at Quarterback and Safety, Big 8 Passing Leader, and Most Valuable Player as selected by his K-State coaches and teammates. Les enjoyed supporting Wildcat football as a loyal alumni member of the Golden Cats former players club.
Before his senior year, Les married Roberta Arlene Stuart of Mound City on August 10, 1958.
After graduation with a general business degree in May 1959, he began a 41 year career with Hallmark Cards, Inc., on June 8, 1959, before retiring on July 10, 2000. Over his career, Les worked in a variety of supervisory and management positions in the Kansas City, Lawrence, and Topeka manufacturing plants. In 1984, Les became the Plant Manager of the Topeka Plant, serving for 17 years. For a time he served concurrently as Plant Manager over the production plants in Topeka and Osage City, until the latter was shuttered by Hallmark. A “people person,” Les knew the names of the more than 1,000 fellow Hallmarkers he led and he truly cared about each of them and their families. Closing the Osage Plant was the hardest thing he ever had to do while at Hallmark.
In addition to family and work, Les was active in the community, to include as a member of the United Methodist Church for the past 50 years, as chair of the Topeka United Way, as honorary chair of the first YWCA “Woman of Excellence” award program in 1991, as president of Topeka Crime Stoppers, as a board member of the YMCA, Boy Scouts, and Junior Achievement, and as a member of the Topeka and Kansas Chambers of Commerce, Topeka Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), Masonic Lodge #286, Scottish Rite, and Arab Shrine.
Les is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Roberta of nearly 64 years and his brother James Delmar Krull, Blue Mound. When Les prepared his “Last Wishes,” he concluded them with this: “My proudest achievement was participating with my wife Roberta in raising our three children to adulthood. We are proud of each of them and their own families.” His family legacy includes son Kyle (Gretchen) Krull, Overland Park, Kan.; daughter Kathi (Brian) Barlow, Peru, Kan.; and daughter Karen (Daniel) Remboldt, Brush Creek, Tenn.; and eleven grandchildren (Scott, Christopher, Stefanie, Sarah, Kirsten, Anneliese, Jesse, Matthew, Brandon, Bethany, and Josiah) and ten great-grandchildren (Brenn, Blake, Jett, Kannon, Trey, Blayse, Olivia, Stratton, Hope, and Gaston).
As Les grew up hoeing miles of bean fields, milking cows, driving a tractor, and doing all manner of general farm chores, he lived out his rural values by practicing the Golden Rule, working hard and having fun. Les always considered himself that same “farm boy” from Blue Mound. While he held others to high standards, they were no higher than the standards he set for himself. He was known for his unique, active sense of humor and was a gifted storyteller. Les was generous to a fault.
Les summarized his life in the family history he wrote in 2006, as follows:
“Roberta has been a strength for our family direction and our life. I am personally very blessed in the life the Lord has allowed me to live. I thank him for it.”
The family would especially like to thank the “care team” at Prairie Wind Senior Center for their loving, extra-mile care of Les and the entire family in his last days.
A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, July 8, at Berryton United Methodist Church, 7010 SE Berryton Rd, Berryton, Kan. Rev. Annie Ricker will conduct a Celebration of Life service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, also at Berryton United Methodist Church. A visitation “down home” will be from 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, July 9, at Schneider Funeral Home Chapel, 319 Chestnut, Mound City, Kan. Following the visitation, there will be a brief graveside service at Sunny Slope Cemetery, Blue Mound, Kan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in person at the visitations or Celebration of Life (or online) to Berryton United Methodist Church, 7010 SE Berryton Rd, Berryton, Kan. 66409 (https://secure.myvanco.com/YGVE/home or Shriners’ Childrens, St Louis, 4400 Clayton Ave, St. Louis, Mo. 63110 (https://www.stlouischildrens.org/giving) or (non-deductible) Prairie Wind Senior Care, 5227 SE 77 th St, Berryton, Kan. 66409.
To leave a remembrance online, please visit www.DoveTopeka.com and/or www.SchneiderFunerals.com.
OBITUARIES
Dale W. Cobbs ~ 05-05-1945 to 07-18-2024
Linn County News Published July 24 2024 Dale W. Cobbs, age 79, of Bush City, Kan., passed away on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at St. Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park, Kan. Dale Wayne Cobbs was born on May 5, 1945, he was the second son born to Everett Wayne... [More]
James E. Wright ~ 01-07-1933 to 07-21-2024
Linn County News Published July 24, 2024 James E. Wright, age 91, Mound City, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 21, 2024. Visitation will be held 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2024, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City Chapel. Memorial contributions... [More]
Roland L. Weir 07-09-1946 to 07-07-2024
Linn County News Published July 17, 2024 Roland L. Weir, age 77, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away in Yates Center, Kan., on July 7, 2024. He was born the son of Beulah Bledsoe on July 9, 1946, in La Cygne, Kan. Growing up and living in La Cygne all his life,... [More]
More Obituaries
- Edward Floyd “Ed” Maloney 10-14-1928 to 07-04-2024
- Betty Alice Smith Fyock 11-02-1931 to 07-04-2024
- Clarence William “Bill” Craven 06-26-1945 to 07-03-2024
- Rolleen Diann Stites 08-12-1950 to 07-04-2024
- Sa’Faree Nicole Woodberry ~ 02-14-2024 to 06-26-2024
- Billy Sherwin Hardesty ~ 04-07-1941 to 06-27-2024
- Darlene M. (Oetting) Fischer ~ 02-02-1931 to 06-27-2024
- Neal Edward Mathews ~ 10-14-1938 to 06-29-2024
NEWS
Commissioners discuss adding new position
During the course of the July 22 meeting the commissioners and Public Works Administrator Shaun West discussed the possibility of adding a position of County Administrator. The discussion began with West noting that the Road and Bridge budget would be dependent on whether or... [More]
Work progresses on USD 362 daycare
Facility will carry the name of ‘Little Buffs’ Daycare Work to renovate Unified School District 362’s former bus barn into a preschool child daycare facility continues to progress toward a goal of being ready when classes begin next month. Financial... [More]
Political forum scheduled for Thursday
The 2024 Primary Election is scheduled Tuesday, Aug. 6, and with that the Linn County News Political Primary Forum is scheduled for Thursday, July 25 at 6 p.m. The forum will feature local candidates, state and national candidates or their representatives. It will be held at... [More]
More News
- USD 346 accepts donations, bids Farm-to-Plate initiative
- Survey for guardrail improvements to begin at Mound City
- Commissioners set evening meeting on last week of the month
- USD 362 to notify revenue exceedance
- Parker to submit exceedance resolution
- Tempers flare during commissioners meeting
- Pleasanton approves land sale resolution
- Legalese complicates La Cygne items
SPORTS
Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team makes finals at Nationals
The Pleasanton/Jayhawk trapshooting team traveled to Mason, Mich. from July 12-14 to compete in the USA High School Clay Target League (USAHSCTL) National Championship. The team performed well both as an individual and a team. The action started on July 12 as Pleasanton/Jayhawk... [More]
Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team places second at TRL tournament
The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team and Pleasanton 2 girls’ coach pitch team competed in the Three Rivers League girls’ coach pitch tournament at Bronson on July 5-6. Pleasanton 1 did not participate in the tournament. Pleasanton 2 was the four seed in... [More]
More Sports
- Pleasanton T-Ball hosts Three Rivers League boys’ T-Ball tournament
- Local ball players make Sports In Kansas All State teams
- Prairie View students receive spring kudos
- 2024 All Linn County Softball team
- 2024 All Linn County Baseball team
- Pleasanton/Jayhawk Linn trapshooting team competes at State Tournament
- Prairie View trapshooting JV team places second at State
- Mound City hosts youth fishing derby
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