One person is dead after a structure fire July 20 at the McGinn residence at 1216 South Spring Lake Road east of Halstead. At about 10:09 a.m. a 911 call was made that there was a fire at the location. “We came out on a structure fire with a possible entrapment,” said Halstead Fire Chief Jim VanSchaick. “One of the neighbors that was here said he heard an explosion. We don’t know if that was after or before the fire started.” Halstead Fire/EMS worked to cool the building to enter and try and find if someone was inside. VanSchaick said firefighters found one person inside a pickup inside the building, a workshop used to rebuild tractors and farm equipment. “The west side of the building was completely involved with fire,” VanSchaick said. The name of the deceased has not been released, pending an investigation by the State Fire Marshall’s office. “There was all kinds of equipment inside, for painting and machine shop type of equipment,” VanSchaick said. ”… It may take a few days to get a report out, that is for sure.” Halstead Fire, Burrton Fire, Newton Fire and Hesston Fire all responded during the fire. The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office was also on site. The fire was contained to the structure, a shop. Also on site is the resident’s home. The force of the blast took down power lines to the home. Mrs. Charlotte McGinn, wife of the victim, was treated for shock and heat exhaustion on the scene. The Newton Kansan, Newton Kansas. Saturday, July 21, 2018. Page 1.
Duane F. ‘Shorty’ McGinn, 84, died Friday, July 20, 2018, at his residence at 1216 Spring Lake Road, Halstead. He was born May 15, 1934, in Sedgwick to John Maurice and Evelyn E. (Shuetz) McGinn. He was owner operator of McGinn and Sons and Sedgwick Motors. He also drove trucks, farmed and drag raced railcars. Before completely retiring, he worked for Halstead Township. Duane loved fishing, camping, dancing, restoring antique tractors and many other items. He loved spending time with his children at parades, tractor pulls and hosted many cookouts.
On May 25, 1952, he married Nancy Ann Hall in Halstead. They were divorced. He later married Charlotte A. (Franklin) Dudrey on Feb. 22, 1992, in Newton. She survives of Halstead. Other survivors include son, Kurt (Janice) McGinn of Sedgwick; daughters: Cindy Beasley of Wichita, Jill (Steve Ewy) McGinn of Halstead and Karen (Chip) Steffen of Haven; mother of his children, Nancy Steffen of Haven; sister, Janice McVicar of Wichita; grandchildren: Christine Jones of Valley Center, Misty Bitting of Wichita and Gracie Steffen of Haven; and great-grandchildren: Cody McGinn, Shelby Jones of Valley Center and Bailey Arnold of Wichita. He was preceded in death by brothers: Richard “Dick” McGinn, Kenneth “Dutch” McGinn, and Jerry McGinn.
Graveside service will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday (Aug. 2, 2018) at Hillside Cemetery in Sedgwick. Memorials may be given to the Sedgwick Historical Society Depot Project in Care of Kaufman Funeral Home, Halstead. Kaufman Funeral Home, Halstead, Kansas. July 30, 2018.
