Linn County News
Published March 10, 2021
Alfonso Gainer Jr. (Junior), 86, of Garnett, Kan. (formerly Centerville, Kan.), died on Sunday, March 7, 2021.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 11, 2021, with the funeral service to follow at 7 p.m. at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Louisburg, Kan. Burial will be held later with the immediate family at the Queen of the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Wea, Kan., beside his son, Christopher Allen Gainer.
Junior was born on Oct. 28, 1934, in White Pine, W. Va., the son of Alfonso Gainer Sr. and Opal Regina Bennett Gainer. He was raised in a very humble home in the hills of West Virginia. His first job was working with Tracy Lydicks where he worked a team of mules pulling logs. His wages were $2 per day, and it was hard work. Junior attended Trace Fork School in West Virginia. After completing the eighth grade, to escape working in the coal mines of West Virginia he joined his cousin, Ron Gainer, in Kansas for promises of good employment. He went to work for a tree trimming company and worked at a gas station in Shawnee, Kan. He later went to work as an operator in the heavy equipment construction business. On Oct. 1, 1958, he joined International Union of Operating Engineers Local 101 as a heavy equipment operator. After retiring he worked just as hard at home and helping others as he did prior to retiring.
Al met his future wife, Mary Ellen Stahl, at the young age of 17. Mary Ellen and Al were set up on a blind date by his cousin, Ron Gainer, and Mary Ellen’s cousin, Edna Kupersmith. They were married at the Queen of Holy Rosary Church in Wea, Kan., on May 1, 1954. Al and Mary’s marriage lasted for 67 wonderful years!
In 1958, after living in Raytown, Mo., Al and Mary purchased a new home in Shawnee, where they resided until 1980 when they moved to Linn County, Kan. Junior enjoyed fishing, deer hunting and hunting for morel mushrooms, tinkering with his tractors and taking drives. He was also ready to help his kids and anybody else that needed it.
After moving to Linn County, Junior and Mary then moved to their newly built home in Centerville, Kan. They always planted a large garden, enjoyed having company and especially loved it when all the kids and their families were there on Sunday afternoons for a big meal and fellowship.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfonso and Opal Gainer; sons, Robert (Bob) Gainer and Christopher (Chris) Gainer; sister, Joan Hughes; and brothers, Edwin “Ed” Gainer, Jack Gainer, Vurl Bland and Burl Bland.
Survivors include daughter Joyce Stoughton (Randy), Osawatomie, Kan.; son Doug Gainer (Lisa), Parker, Kan.; sister Lelia Gainer of St. Charles, Mo; grandchildren Jessica Berg, DeAnna Morgan and Dalton Gainer; and five great-grandchildren, Emery Morgan, Dakota Berg, Liam Berg, Hadley Morgan and Owen Morgan.
Though he remained in Kansas for the rest of his life, his heart never left the mountains of West Virginia. He returned there as often as possible to visit family and friends and to hunt in the places of his youth on Turkey Knob.
Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice or Queen of the Holy Rosary Cemetery c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, P.O. Box 669, Louisburg, Kan. 66053.
To leave a special message for the family online, please visit www.dengelmortuary.com
Arr: Dengel & Son Mortuary Louisburg Chapel
OBITUARIES
David Howard McNabb, Ph.D. ~ 06-04-1947 to 05-11-2024
Linn County News Published May 15, 2024 David Howard McNabb, 76, passed away May 11, 2024 at home in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. The son of a farmer, Dave was born June 4, 1947, to Henry and Alice (Jackson) McNabb at Pleasanton. Education and research were always... [More]
Marci Ann Betts ~ 08-06-1973 to 05-09-2024
Linn County News Published May 15, 2024 Marci Ann Betts, age 50, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away Thursday, May 9, 2024. She was born on Aug. 6, 1973, in Kansas City, Mo. Marci loved her grandkids and enjoyed spending time with them. She enjoyed being outdoors. She... [More]
Randall Jay “Randy” Crisler ~ 10-03-1961 to 05-09-2024
Linn County News Published May 15, 2024 Randall Jay “Randy” Crisler age 62 of Lane, Kan., died Thursday May 9, 2024, at Olathe Medical Center. Randy was born Oct. 03, 1961, in North Kansas City, Mo. He was the eldest of two, born to Larry L. and Janet... [More]
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- Clarence Lee Miller ~ 08-07-1962 to 05-08-2024
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- Patty Conklin ~ 08-31-1932 to 04-26-2024
- Robert “Bob” Eugene Markley ~ 04-11-1936 to 04-15-2024
- Ronald Joe Smith ~ 05-10-1944 to 04-11-2024
- Mary Tinsley ~ 12-15-1935 to 04-09-2024
- Frederick John “Fritz” Johanning, Jr. ~ 08-10-1948 to 03-26-2024
- Doris Maxine Basore ~ 01-02-1920 to 03-10-2024
NEWS
Commissioners hear engineer on Hell’s Bend Bridge
Motion to accept grant funds fails for lack of second Linn County Public Works Administrator Shawn West spoke to Commissioners again this week on the Hell’s Bend bridge project, northwest of La Cygne, noting that a decision needed to be made that day as it was... [More]
Pleasanton pound pups get new kennels
After a warning from the state concerning the condition of Pleasanton’s animal shelter, the city and STARS faculty and students joined forces to create a safer, cleaner environment for dogs held by the city. The new kennels were constructed by STARS welding, construction... [More]
Pleasanton discusses Kansas Police & Fire Pension membership
While trying to hire more police officers, the Pleasanton Council met with KPERS representative Paige Ashley to discuss enrolling the city in Kansas Police and Fire Pension System (KP&F). Ashley explained that the KP&F system is two-tiered as police officers and firemen... [More]
More News
- Commissioners hear reports on Hell’s Bend Bridge
- La Cygne Fire Station ribbon cutting held
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- Special: U.S. 69 resurfacing project starts this week
- Special: Governor issues State of Disaster Emergency proclamation for approaching severe weather
- Commissioners hear damage report, declare county as state, local disaster site
- Mayor vetoes vacating 7th Street off of Main
- USD 362 to wait on admin addition
SPORTS
Jayhawk Linn track wins Three Rivers League meet
The Jayhawk Linn track team traveled to Northeast Arma on May 9 to compete in the Three Rivers League meet. The Hawks were the class of the Three Rivers as both the boys and girls placed first at the meet. The girls placed first with a score of 121 while the boys placed first... [More]
Pleasanton baseball falls in Regional semifinal
The Pleasanton baseball team entered the Central Heights 2-1A Regional tournament as a three seed. The Jays hosted the six seed Jayhawk Linn in their first game on May 8 and won 7-5. The next game was at Central Heights on May 13 where they faced the two seed Crest. This is where... [More]
More Sports
- Jayhawk and Pleasanton baseball split in double header
- Prairie View softball goes 4-0 against Osawatomie and Girard
- Jayhawk track has a strong performance at home invitational
- Prairie View track takes top two places at Jayhawk
- Pleasanton track has a school record mark set at Jayhawk Invitational
- Prairie View softball goes 4-2 in busy week
- Pleasanton baseball sweeps St. Paul and Oswego
- Jayhawk baseball splits against Southeast Cherokee
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