The death of Willa Dean Kerns Creager, age 77, of Pleasanton, Kan., means the passing of a wonderful Irish mother. Willa was born at La Cygne, Kan., on Aug. 21, 1937, the younger of two daughters born to Jess and Bessie McGinnis Kerns. She graduated from La Cygne Rural High School in the Class of 1956.
She was united in marriage to William H. Hampson on Oct. 20, 1956. They were blessed with four beautiful daughters. Willa and Bill raised their four daughters on a farm west of Paola, Kan. She then worked in the health care industry.
Real heroes are people who do ordinary things extraordinarily well. Willa loved taking care of her family on the farm. She kept an immaculate and well decorated home. Her family was fed delicious and nutritious meals from gardens, orchards and their own beef, chickens and dairy cows. She raised her children in the church, playing the organ and singing with her beautiful angelic voice. With only one arm, the other weakened by polio as a child, she accomplished being a farmer’s wife, mother of four children and so much more. She was known for her culinary skills, fruit cobblers, homemade bread and her beautiful smile. After raising her children, she became an accomplished clogger, line dancer and oil painter.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her premature son RonaldLee Hampson in 1957; her grandson Jeremy Sherman Moody in 2004; and brother in law Gene Rockwell.
She is survived by four daughters: Nancy Player and husband Jim, Marsha Windisch, Lanette Silvey and husband Dale, Billie Jo Knowles and husband Danny; one sister Esther Rockwell; 20 grandchildren, Lisa Lenzen, Emily Brown, Joy Davila, Kyle Windisch, Kristina Sulivan, Greg Windisch, Joseph Windisch, Shawn Windisch, Wesley Windisch, Jessica Diskson, Allyssa Knowles, Meagan Knowles, Dylan Knowles, William Knowles, Laura Knowles, Luke Knowles, Cierra Knowles, Chloe Knowles and Matthew Knowles; 16 great-grandchildren; and cousins John McGinnis, Shirley Gomerdinger, Dorothy Presson, Don, Loren and Dick Stewart and Barbara Bensen, Rosetta Beard, Gary and Marvin Creager and Glenda Borgelt.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2015, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne Chapel. Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until service time at the Chapel. Contributions are suggested to Mercy Hospice. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com. Arrangements: Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, La Cygne 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]
More Obituaries
- Clarence Lee Miller ~ 08-07-1962 to 05-08-2024
- Ruby M. Nielson ~ 01-21-1932 to 04-27-2024
- 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
- Evergy reps speak about bridges at commissioners’ meeting
- 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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