Vannie Hugh (Van) Michael was born Oct. 16, 1938, to parents, Oscar Arthur and Leta Barton Michael, in Sickles, Caddo County, Okla. He passed away in Seton Highland Lakes Hospital after a tragic accident at his home in Burnet (Silver Creek) on Aug. 17, 2015.
His family lived in rural Colorado (near the little community of Kim), where, as a young man, he trained horses for many of the local ranchers. He was baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on June 25, 1950. After his parents were divorced in 1950, he lived with his loving grandparents, Vannie and Ivy Michael, in Pritchett, Colo., until he graduated from high school.
During Van’s life, he was always a cowboy at heart – having started on the rodeo circuit at the age of 13. He went on to pursue his dream and became a professional bronc rider reaching national finals and winning many trophies, saddles and belt buckles throughout the years.
He was a welder and did pipeline work all over the U.S. and Canada from 1967 to 2013. He was also a lowboy driver and hauled heavy equipment cross-country. He owned and operated many drilling companies and bought, refurbished and sold drilling equipment in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. He was a member of the Operating Engineers Local 234 Union, Des Moines, Iowa, and a member of Teamsters Local 150, Sacramento, Calif.
Van is survived by his loving wife, Mary Lee Michael, whom he married on Dec. 11, 2009; his son, Derek Van Michael of Burnet; and daughter, Danielle Michael of Kansas; four grandsons, his namesake Van Arthur Michael, Dalton Karr; Gavin Tice and Jarren Lewis; one granddaughter, Jacey Lewis; a stepdaughter, Lisa Tice; a stepson, Ed Lewis; two sisters, Virginia Michael Owens of Burnet, and Debbie Rochester and husband Johnny Rochester of Burnet; and sister-in-law Dolores Michael of Burnet; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of life-long friends and acquaintances.
Van was predeceased by his loving grandparents who raised him; both parents; his son Joe Michael; three brothers, Robert L. Michael Sr., A. J. Michael and William Michael; a sister, Fern Michael Smith; two stepchildren, Tina Lewis and Jason Lewis; a nephew, Dennis Michael; and a niece, Deena Michael.
Funeral services were at the funeral home chapel on Friday, Aug. 21, with burial following at Post Mountain Cemetery in Burnet, Texas.
Funeral arrangements made by Edgar & Jenkins Family Funeral Home, 109 North Main Street, Burnet, Texas 78611 (512) 756-4444.
OBITUARIES
Lillie Mae Jackson ~ 04-23-1928 to 10-22-2025
Linn County News Published October 29, 2025 Lillie Mae Jackson, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Oct. 22, 2025. Services will be held at the Pleasanton Chapel of Schneider Funeral Homes at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. Visitation will be from... [More]
Monica Joy (Goebel) Mullins ~ 12-30-1965 to 10-20-2025
Linn County News Published October 29, 2025 Monica Joy Mullins, 59, of Fort Scott died Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, at the home of her father in Mound City, Kan. Monica was born on Dec. 30, 1965, in Kansas City, Kan., to Gary Richard and Eva May (Alumbaugh)... [More]
Kelly Renee Moore ~ 08-02-1963 to 10-13-2025
Linn County News Published October 22, 2025 Kelly Renee Moore, age 62 Paola, Kan., passed away at her home on Oct. 13, 2025. She was born the daughter of Ernest DeWayne and Neva Stillwagon O’Dell on Aug. 2, 1963, in La Mesa, Calif. Kelly loved... [More]
More Obituaries
- Norma Jeanne (Riley) Long ~ 08-21-1938 to 10-13-2025
- Geneva Darlene Jennings ~ 11-15-1939 to 10-12-2025
- Mary Margaret Wilson ~ 01-08-1930 to 10-13-2025
- Letha Spillman ~ 06-19-1929 to 10-02-2025
- Mary Alice Fagg ~ 07-30-1933 to 09-25-2025
- John T. Miles ~ 01-29-1960 to 05-01-2025
- Paul David Hamilton ~ 11-07-1950 to 09-23-2025
- Lora Lynn West ~ 10-22-1959 to 09-24-2025
NEWS
Former Zoning Administrator explains KORA requests
During the weekly meeting on Monday, Oct. 20, the Linn County Commissioners heard from former county employee Darin Wilson who served previously as the Planning and Zoning Administrator. Wilson told commissioners that the KORA (Kansas Open Records Act) requests he had made were... [More]
Pleasanton Council overrides mayor veto on firefighter appointments
The Pleasanton Council met at their regularly scheduled meeting Monday and Councilman Aaron Portmann immediately read a prepared statement concerning Ordinance 2065 that Mayor Mathew Young vetoed that tried to take appointment of firefighters from the mayor and put it on the... [More]
Snyder appointed Linn County Register of Deeds
Following the retirement of long-time Linn County Register of Deeds Kristy Schmitz, the Linn County Republican Central Committee held a convention Sunday to appoint a new Register of Deeds. Central Committee Chair Becky Johnson held the role call of committee people and 20... [More]
More News
- Blue Mound to apply for KDHE loan for sewer project
- Souza resigns county clerk post
- Farmers State Bank under new ownership
- Linn Valley council updated on water, lagoon projects
- Suit filed in Sunshine Meadows building permit case
- Pleasanton demos asphalt zipper for street repair
- La Cygne awards lift station bid
- Appraiser’s office announces completion of review
SPORTS
Prairie View football stays on top of their district with big win over Girard
The Prairie View Buffalos are in 3A District 2 and currently hold the number one seed in that district. The Buffalos 49-20 win over Girard gave them a great chance to be District champions. This week the Buffalos travel to Iola for their final district game and will seal the... [More]
Prairie View volleyball finishes season at Girard
The Prairie View volleyball team finished their regular season games at Iola this past week as they had a Pioneer League triangular against Iola and Osawatomie. They were in the 3A Regional quad at Girard on Oct. 20 and finished their season there going 1-2. To see the full... [More]
Jays lock in league runner up spot at Uniontown
Just as the week before, Pleasanton turned first-half takeaways into touchdowns and won at Uniontown last Friday night, 45-12, in a Three Rivers League and Class 1-A, District 1 matchup. The win assures the Blu-Jays of at least their third consecutive second-place finish in... [More]
More Sports
- Jayhawk football routs Southeast Cherokee
- Pleasanton volleyball goes 2-2 in final week of the regular season
- Schneider makes State for Hawks in girls’ golf
- Wade and Britz advance to State for the Buffalos
- Blu-Jays convert takeaways into Homecoming win
- Lady Jays host league triangular and competes at Uniontown
- Jayhawk volleyball has a busy successful week
- Jayhawk football wins thriller over Pleasanton on Homecoming
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