June 13, 1946 — October 8, 2024
Fredonia, Kansas
William Lee Bracken was born June 13, 1946, the first child of Clarice Albert (CA) and Georgia Lee (Fern) Bracken who lived on the Fall River west of Fredonia, Kansas. Lee succumbed to liver disease on October 8, 2024.
He attended Maple Grove School and graduated from Fredonia High School in 1964. He was active in FFA and was a charter member and first president of the Busy Beavers 4-H Club. Lee was all things agriculture and nature. He started raising pigs at the age of 11 and worked for area farmers. In 1966 he went to work for Maxwell Ranch and was employed there for the next 10 years.
He joined the National Guard and earned the sharpshooter medal and served as a sniper during the Topeka tornado and the riots of the 1970s. On November 4, 1967, high school sweethearts, Lee and Joyce Seiler were married. Together they continued raising pigs for the next 43 years. In 1976 they were given the opportunity to begin living their American Dream. They purchased their first farm on the Fall River just 4 miles downstream from where Lee was born. There they started in earnest to begin farming and to build a swine enterprise. Lee was widely regarded as a swine producer and was named the Kansas Pork All American in 1982.
Many people knew him because of the many whole hogs he roasted for events. Awards and recognition meant very little to him. Raising their 2 daughters, helping other people and improving the land were what were important. Lee loved conservation work. He had an eye for recognizing what needed to be fixed in a field. He took great satisfaction in making a field more productive.
Through the years many people, especially high school students, worked for Bracken Farms. He loved teaching young people. While it might have been challenging to work for Lee at times, he cherished each and every one of his employees and if you worked for him, he had your back covered. Lee was active in the community and was many times behind the scenes getting things done and giving of himself to others. Some of his involvements included Wilson County Fair Association, Rodeo Chairman, REC board, Coop board, 4-H leader, Old Iron Club and Knights of Columbus. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. His favorite saying was “The Lord God works in mysterious ways” and he proved it to us so many times.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Joyce; daughters and families, Jeanna and Preston Beeman, Reid, Maddie and Huxley Beeman, Tessa Beeman, Jorja Beeman, Charlotte and Tony Signer, Bryce, Teely and Raelynn Johnson Signer, and Jordan Signer; brothers Tom and Donita Bracken and Stanley and Doris Bracken; and brothers-in-law Larry Appelhans, Dennis Seiler, Glen Seiler and Randy Condron.
He was proceeded in death by both parents and sister Linda Sue Appelhans and sister-in-Law Judy Condron. He is also survived by a host of dearly loved nieces and nephews. Survivors also include two 30+ year employees, Dwight Mayeske and Jared Schultz.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fredonia, Kansas. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm Friday, at Sacred Heart. The Rosary will be prayed at 7 pm. Memorial contributions are suggested to Wilson County Old Iron Club, Wilson County Busy Beaver 4-H Club, Greenwood County 4-H Foundation, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.
(Published in the Linn County Journal on October 14, 2025.)
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