Tom R. Van Sickle, age 79, died Sunday, July 3, 2016, at the Nottingham Health and Rehabilitation Center in Olathe, Kan. Tom was born June 22, 1937, in Vernon County, Mo., the son of Vincent and Welcome Hinderliter Van Sickle.
He was a graduate of Fulton High School. He was one of four 4-H delegates who represented Kansas at the National 4-H Conference held in Washington, D.C., in 1956.
Tom attended Baker University for two years prior to transferring to Kansas University and graduating with a BA degree in political science in 1959. While at both Baker University and KU, he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Tom married Suzanne Galvin in 1964 at Lima, Ohio. Following 25 years of marriage, they later divorced.
Following that divorce he spent 19 years with his life partner Georgina Hunter. She preceded him in death.
He graduated from the Washburn School of Law with a JD degree in 1966. He was admitted to the Kansas Bar that same year. In 1967, Tom, along with Larry Nuss, formed the legal partnership of Van Sickle and Nuss Law Firm in Fort Scott. The firm continues today as Nuss and Farmer.
Tom was the youngest person elected to the Kansas Legislature as a state representative in 1958. While in the Kansas House of Representatives, Tom drove Roland Hyle, George Bainum and himself to Washington, D.C., for a week to present to the Kansas congressional delegation the idea of making a national historic site of the remains of the old fort. Their most important contact was with Joe Skubitz, then administrative assistant to Senator Andy Shoeppel. Tom was elected as Kansas state senator for three terms to represent this district in 1960, 1964 and 1968. While a member of the state senate, Tom led the successful debate to maintain U.S. Highway 69 status as part of the Kansas freeway system and prevented it from becoming a turnpike. He was elected Kansas state treasurer for one term in 1972. Tom ran twice for Kansas attorney general. He lost the primary the first time and lost the general election the second time. He was always active in the Republican Party having served as the executive secretary of the Young Republican National Federation and later the chairman of that organization. He was the Republican delegate for the United States to the New Iran Party, Tehran, Iran, in 1967. He was an alternate delegate for the United States to the meeting of UNESCO, Paris, France, in 1970. In 1960, he served as the chief page for the Republican National Convention. He was the assistant field director for the Draft Goldwater Committee and the assistant floor manager for the Goldwater for President Committee at the Republican National Convention in 1964.
Upon moving to Arizona, Tom continued to be active in politics. He served as the chairman of the Arizona Committee for Ronald Reagan for President in 1979–1980. He was an Arizona delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Detroit in 1980. He was the field director for Reagan for President in both Arizona and Hawaii in 1980. Tom was a guest at the White House state dinner for the Pakistan president in 1985.
While living in Arizona, Tom was the principal developer of the Scottsdale Industrial Air Park. He developed residential real estate and two strip shopping centers in Sedona, Ariz., and became chairman of Scottsdale’s Security Savings and Loan. Tom continued his education by receiving an associate of arts degree in general studies with honors from the Yavapal Community College in 2007. With the Honors Class he was able to spend a week’s trip to Prague, The Czech Republic. He was a member for one term of the Board of Trustees of Baker University and delivered the commencement speech for their College of Education on May 22, 2011. He received this honor “In recognition of his contributions and dedication to the public sector and servant leadership.” He was a lifetime member of the Kansas University Alumni Association, past member of the Fort Scott Rotary Club and Friends of the Fort. In both Kansas and Arizona, Tom was active in the local chambers of commerce. He served on the board of directors in Fort Scott, Scottsdale and Sedona. He served one year as chairman of the Sedona Board of Directors.
Tom lists as his greatest achievement in life, along with his wife, Suzy, his children. Survivors include one daughter Becky Van Sickle and husband, Fergus Caldicott, Portland, Ore.; three sons David Van Sickle and wife, Lolly, Merrell, Oregon, Wisc., Rob Van Sickle and wife, Liz, Jamaica Plain, Mass., and Matt Van Sickle and partner, Julia Jagersberger, Vienna, Austria; two stepsons Howard Hunter-Patel and wife, Shilpa, Phoenix, Ariz., and Chico Hunter and wife, Jennie, Tempe, Ariz. Also surviving is a brother Gary Van Sickle and wife, Linda, Fort Scott; five grandchildren Henry Merrell-Van Sickle, Charlie Merrell-Van Sickle, Jack Merrell-Van Sickle, Lucy Van Sickle and Mac Van Sickle; and two step-grandsons Neel Hunter-Patel and Orion Hunter; stepmother-in-law, Bertha Badillio, El Paso, Tex.
Tom donated his body to science research at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations in his honor are suggested to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation Trolley Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
OBITUARIES
Jackie “Jack” Howard Shroyer ~ 01-24-1940 to 09-04-2025

Linn County News Published September 10, 2025 Jackie "Jack" Howard Shroyer, age 85 of Prescott, Kan., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. Jack was born the son of Eugene and Lillie Ruth (Blangy) Shroyer on Jan. 24, 1940, in Prescott, Kan. He... [More]
Wallace “Mack” Probasco ~ 07-05-1959 to 09-02-2025

Linn County News Published September 10, 2025 Wallace “Mack” Probasco, age 66 of Pleasanton, Kan., passed away at his home on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. He was born the son of Francis Mack and Edna E. Wallace Probasco on July 5, 1959, in Fort Scott,... [More]
Martha F. Couch ~ 01-03-1929 to 07-18-2025

Linn County News Published September 10, 2025 It is with much sorrow that the family of Martha Frasier Couch, a woman of deep faith and compassion, shares the news that she passed away peacefully on July 18, 2025, just months after the passing of her husband, Keith,... [More]
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- George Teagarden ~ 01-30-1943 to 09-01-2025
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- Joe W. Mann ~ 09-02-1951 to 07-26-2025
- Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025
- Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025
- Ruth Ann Antrim ~ 05-21-1951 to 07-07-2025
- Helen Maxine Wright ~ 05-28-1939 to 06-19-2025
NEWS
Property taxes and how they work

In Kansas, there is a definitive process for determining what the property taxes are on any given piece of property. Did you know that according to SmartAsset.com Linn County has the second lowest property tax average in the entire state? According to information available... [More]
Pleasanton Fire Department personnel hiring questioned

What started out as a department update from Pleasanton Fire Chief Jeff Wisdom, turned into a showdown between councilmembers and the mayor in who was hired as volunteer firefighters in Pleasanton. Wisdom informed the council he was beginning training for new firefighters September... [More]
Commission ‘bares’ down to pass public nudity ban

Linn County commissioners passed a resolution banning public nudity at its Sept. 2 weekly meeting, delayed a day for the governmental Labor Day holiday. Resolution No. 2025-16, enacted on a 2-0 vote with Alison Hamilton not present, forbids nudity on public property or outside... [More]
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SPORTS
Alvarez leads Pleasanton cross country

The Pleasanton cross country team traveled to Garnett for their first meet of the year on Sept. 4 at the Annual Jerry Howarter Invitational. The Jays had runners in both the junior high and high school races. Dominic Alvarez led the Hawks as he earned a medal and placed... [More]
Jayhawk football starts season with shutout over Central Heights

The Jayhawk Linn football team traveled to Fort Scott on Sept. 5 to host the Central Heights Vikings for their first game of the season. This was supposed to be a home game for the Hawks but had to be played at Fort Scott because the field was not ready. The game began with... [More]
Spradling era kicks off with oohhs and 'Oz'
Jason Spradling's head coaching era at Prairie View debuted with plenty of oohhs and 'Oz' Friday night. The oohhs came from an offensive running attack that amassed 612 rushing yards, all but 99 in the first half, and saw Buffalo four-year starters Parker Schwarz gain 287 yards... [More]
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