Lynn Raymond Menagh, 74, of Norton, Kansas passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, December 31, 2023 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.
Lynn was born in Oxford, Nebraska, on June 17, 1949, to his parents, Merlin and Betty Menagh. He had one sister, Sher Drassen, and three brothers, Mike Menagh, Terry Menagh, and Steve Menagh. Lynn attended kindergarten through 12th grade in several rural towns in Nebraska and graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1967. He then attended Kearney State College and graduated in 1971. In Kearney, he met his wife Pamela Daffer and they married on June 14, 1970. Lynn took graduate classes from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and continuing education classes at Baker University throughout his career.
Lynn taught Industrial Arts in Friend, Nebraska from 1971-1972. From 1973 until 1985, he served as a police officer and a police sergeant in Crete, Nebraska. In 1985, Lynn was selected to be the Chief of Police in Norton, Kansas where he served until his retirement in 2007. Over his career, he provided counseling to high school students and co-wrote the original DUI statute in Kansas. Lynn also served his country in the Army National Guard for several years and was honorably discharged in 1977.
Lynn enjoyed being a police officer and working with his law enforcement peers in Nebraska and Kansas, as well as providing support to the community. Lynn was involved with the Norton Classic Cruisers and took his restored classic cars to various car shows in the Midwest and travelled several times on Tour Nebraska.
Lynn never met a stranger and made a humorous comment to everyone he met. His family, both immediate and extended, were extremely important to him. In his spare time, he enjoyed restoring classic cars, spending time with family, camping, fishing, hunting, going to coffee with his friends at the Sheriff’s office, and relaxing at his lake house in Kearney.
Survivors include Lynn’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren: Chad and Jennifer Menagh, grandchildren Isabel and Luke, great-grandchild Hudson (Crete, NE), Corey and Amie Menagh, grandchildren Sydney and Colby (Norton, KS), Zach and Megan Zielonko, grandchildren Ava and Ethan (Denver, CO). Lynn is also survived by his siblings: Sher and Mel Drassen (Golden, MO), Mike and Lora Menagh (Centennial, CO), Terry and Denise Menagh (Beatrice, NE), Steve and Rhonda Menagh (South Bend, NE). He was preceded in death by his spouse, Pamela Daffer; his parents, Merlin and Betty Menagh; and in-laws Carl and Josephine Welborn.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, Norton. Burial will follow in the Norton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm Friday, January 5, 2024 also at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Prairie Dog State Park and sent in care of Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com