Robert Dale “Bob” Besinger, 91, of Cummings, KS died Friday, July 8, 2016 at the Atchison Senior Village with his family around him.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 12th, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lancaster with Sr. Mary Ari officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Memory Gardens, Atchison. The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 8:00 pm on Monday, July 11th, 2016 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are suggested to NEKS Hospice or St. John’s Lutheran Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Bob was born on April 3, 1925 in Decatur, ILL the son of William Gerald and Mary Ruth (Stovall) Besinger. He graduated from Atchison High School in 1943 and entered the United States Army serving in World War II. Mr. Besinger was a Prisoner of War captured between Nancy and Metz in France. He spent 7 months at Saarbrucken, 12A, 7A Stalags in Germany. He said of his capture,” I was in the wrong place at the wrong time”. Mr. Besinger is a receipient of a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in World War II. Upon returning to Atchison, he worked for the Missouri-Pacific and Santa Fe Railroads before becoming a Rural Mail carrier in the Cummings and Lancaster communities for over twenty-three years, retiring in 1986. Bob was a member of the St. John’ Lutheran Church, Lancaster, KS, the American Legion Post #6, where he served as Service Officer for the Post. He was a member of the VFW Post # 1175, a former member of the Active Masonic Lodge, and a member of the Leavenworth P.O.W. Chapter. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, going to casinos, everything to do with horses, and always had a collection of toothpicks.

He was married to Lola Mae Buddenbohm on December 3, 1947 in Atchison KS. Mrs. Besinger preceded him in death on March 23, 2005. Survivors include two sons, Mark A. Besinger, Kansas City, MO, and Robert M. Besinger, Atchison KS, a daughter, Monica Donaldson, Atchison, KS, two grandchildren, two step grandchildren, one great grandson, and nine step great grandchildren. His parents, wife, and three brothers, Forest, Eugene, and Max Besinger preceded him in death.