Linn County News
Published Sept. 1, 2021
Ralph Dugan Cowan died Aug. 23, 2021. Ralph was born March 18, 1936, in Kansas City, Kan. He graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1954. That is where he met the love of his life, Deverl Simpson.
Ralph married Dee on March 9, 1957. Their marriage lasted 61 years, ending with Dee’s death in 2018.
Ralph ran track at Northwest Junior High and Wyandotte. He held Wyandotte’s 100-yard low hurdle record, receiving the A.W. Allen Trophy, and was Kansas City, Kan., City Champion.
He would go on to create the Kansas City region Junior Olympics program.
Ralph became interested in motor racing when he was young and on weekends drove midgets throughout the Midwest for almost 20 years, while he worked to support his growing family during the week. He held an IMCA record at Olympic Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Ralph moved the family from Kansas City, Kan., in 1966 to Leawood, Kan., where they lived until moving to the La Cygne area, where they built a house in 1983.
Ralph was a third generation florist and worked in the family shop. He later owned his own shops as well as an executive floral service. He sold real estate and had many sales jobs throughout his life. He spent many years self-employed as a manufacturer’s rep in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Dee handled the records and accompanied him on business trips. At the time of his death, he led Cowan Associates, manufacturer’s reps, a family business with his two sons.
When Ralph was 43, he started weight lifting along with his son, and proceeded to live a healthy lifestyle. He ate healthy and worked out three days a week with weights and jogging. For 15 years, including this year when he turned 85, Ralph had posing photos taken on his birthday. Every year he gave family members bound volumes with the pictures and inspirational comments and quotes. For the past 10 years he said each year would be the last, but the next year there would be a new book.
Ralph is survived by his four children, Cheryl Willis, Overland Park, Laura Kyle, Drexel, Mo., Ronald Cowan, La Cygne, and Michael Cowan, Overland Park; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Schneider Funeral Home. Family only service, burial in Brooklyn Cemetery.
OBITUARIES
Frederick John “Fritz” Johanning, Jr. ~ 08-10-1948 to 03-26-2024
Linn County News Published April 3, 2024 Frederick John "Fritz" Johanning, Jr., age 75, of Blue Mound, Kan., passed away Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Mound City... [More]
Doris Maxine Basore ~ 01-02-1920 to 03-10-2024
Linn County News Published March 13, 2024 Doris Maxine Basore, age 104, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Monday, March 10, 2024. She was born in Bates County, Mo., on Jan. 2, 1920, the daughter of Ray and Verna Chapman Lacy. She graduated from Rich Hill High School... [More]
Janice (Good) Waltmire ~ 08-20-1937 to 03-09-2024
Linn County News Published March 13, 2024 Janice (Good) Waltmire, age 86, of Overland Park, Kan., passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, March 9, 2024. She was born the youngest of four children in Mound City, Kan., on Aug. 20, 1937, to the late Ralph... [More]
More Obituaries
- Richard Lee Strader ~ 06-08-1974 to 02-24-24
- Robert William Harper, Jr. ~ 07-14-1947 to 02-24-2024
- Richard Eldon Baldwin ~ 07-21-1963 to 03-04-2024
- Michael Barry Hixon, Sr. ~ 08-31-1952 to 01-31-2024
- Charles Vernon Rowe ~ 08-14-1930 to 02-26-2024
- Chris Martincz
- Deborah Anne Rhynerson ~ 09-17-1958 to 02-12-2024
- Trina Renee Watson ~ 07-06-1971 to 02-11-2024
NEWS
USD 362 to return to onsite food service
Move follows decade with food management companies After a decade of partnering with private management vendors, Prairie View Unified School District 362 will return to self-operation of its food service program next school year. The decision came at the monthly... [More]
La Cygne to change insurance carrier
Purchase will still be through Truly La Cygne city leaders have opted for a new municipal insurance underwriter. On a 3-0 vote at last Wednesday’s regular meeting, with David Brenneman and Ed Smith not present, the council voted for the city to be insured through... [More]
Agriculture leading economic contributor for Linn County
Agriculture touches the lives of everyone in Linn County, whether you are a producer or a consumer, providing a direct or indirect impact of over $170 million to our county in 2023. Farming and beef cattle ranching, including feedlots and dual-purpose farming and ranching... [More]
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- Creating a healthier park with fire
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SPORTS
Prairie View brings home two State titles in powerlifting championship
The Prairie View powerlifting team traveled to Santa Fe Trail on March 23 for the 3A State Powerlifting Meet. The Buffalos did very well at the meet with seven lifters placing in the top three and Prairie View placing second overall as a team. “We came up 11 points short... [More]
Jayhawk softball hosts Prairie View in season opener
The Jayhawk Linn softball team hosted Prairie View in their season opener on March 19. The Lady Hawks played a double-header and lost both games to the Lady Buffs 5-15 and 13-15. The first game saw the Buffalos take a 6-3 after three innings. After this, Prairie View outscored... [More]
More Sports
- 2024 All Linn County boys’ basketball team
- Pleasanton and Jayhawk boys’ basketball TRL All League selections
- Linn County Twisters have six place at State
- Four wrestlers place at State for Jayhawk Wrestling Club
- Pleasanton basketball hosts 2A Sub-State tournament
- Prairie View girls basketball falls in semifinals at Sub-State
- Jayhawk girls’ basketball makes Sub-State semifinals
- Prairie View wrestling sends four to State and comes back with two medals
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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com