Mildred Kathryn Burk
08-02-1922 to 11-20-2019
Linn County News
Published Nov. 27, 2019
Mildred Kathryn Burk, (Millie), age 97 of Parker, Kan., died Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, at home surrounded by family. Mildred was born Aug. 2, 1922, in Patterson, Okla. (Garfield County). She was the third of five children of John Henry and Frieda Bertha (Peters) Wyssmann. She grew up in Garfield County, Okla.
After high school, Mildred moved to Enid, Okla. She worked in a factory while attending Enid Business School, upon graduation worked for Geo. E. Failing Supply Co. in the typing pool.
On April 28, 1946, Mildred and Wilfred Burk were united in marriage in Covington, Okla. The couple made their home in Parker, Kan. Together they raised eight children on the family farm, Margaret, Rose, Carol, Barbara, Wayne, Ruth, Coleen and Kathryn.
Over the years Mildred worked for Osawatomie State Hospital, was an administrative assistant for BEHM Co., and retired from Gulf Western. Her retirement was short-lived, and she went back to work for the Osawatomie Chamber of Commerce and later Taylor Forge where she celebrated her second retirement at the age of 79.
Mildred was a life-long learner; she acquired an associate degree from FSCC. Mildred designed and built a dining room table and hutch in a Wood Working I Class, learned to play the piano in her ‘80s, and in her spare time enjoyed oil painting, ceramics, sewing, quilting, gardening and bird watching.
Mildred was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Paola and belonged to the First Lutheran Quilting Bee, a sister of Beta Sigma Phi, played in the Ding-a-ling Bell Choir, served as officer for the Parker Library Board, was a 4-H community leader, taught 4-H sewing, and served on the Parker Election Voting Precinct.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilfred; her parents; her siblings, Arthur Wyssmann, Leona Thorp, Irma Fischer and John Wyssmann; granddaughter Dawn Guilliams Miller; and great grandson Joshua Sharrow.
Mildred is survived by her children, Margaret Guilliams of Mt. Gretna, Pa., Rose (John) Gypalo of Algonquin, Ill., Carol Buckman of Colony, Kan., Barbara Finnigin of Seneca, Kan., Wayne Burk of Parker, Ruth (Gary) Hanser of Plattsburg, Mo., Coleen (Jim) Stahl of Centerville, Kan., and Kathryn Johnston (Mike Ford) of Overland Park, Kan.; sister Mary (John) Knecht of Owasso, Okla.; 31 grandchildren, 55 great grandchildren, and seven great, great grandchildren; and a large extended family.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorials to: Heritage Park, c/o Cherry Buckley. PO Box 137, Parker, KS 66072; Good Shepherd Hospice, 11267 Strang Line Road, Lenexa, KS 66215.
Service was Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, at First Lutheran Church 401 E. Piankishaw St., Paola, Kan.
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

