Joseph Anthony Senger

On Tuesday, November 3, 2020, Joseph Anthony Senger, father of nine children, passed away just two weeks shy of his 91st birthday. Joseph (Joe) was born on November 17, 1929, in Gary, Indiana to Dorothy (Kuntz) and Joseph Senger, both descendants of German immigrants who migrated from Odessa, Russia early in the 20th century. He primarily grew up in Devils Lake, North Dakota. After graduating high school he served two years in the National Guard and then served in the United States Army for 30 years, including two tours in Vietnam. During his military career he was awarded the Bronze Star and achieved the rank of CWO3. On April 19, 1950, he married Vesta Ilene Murray and they shared a loving, full life for 62 years. Many of these years were measured by the duty stations to which Joe was assigned and the arrival of their children. They raised two boys, Michael Anthony Senger (deceased) and Joel Timothy Senger (Alexis), and six girls, Gayle Jo Carrasco, Jacquelyn Kay Theriot (Lawrence), Tomi Lynn Ryba, Lorraine, K., deceased at birth, Kim Lorraine Archuleta, Jennifer Ilene Oliver (Stephen), and Elizabeth Ann Senger (Derek). Joe developed an early passion for photography when he became the photographer for his high school newspaper. Because of his career in the Army, he travelled widely, keeping an eye out for unusual vistas and visages. His slideshows of his growing family and candid shots of people here and in the Middle East, Europe, Vietnam, and beyond were famous (infamous?) and were always popular at family gatherings. His ability to frame the perfect slant of light, capturing a mischievous grin, or a pensive moment amounted to treasures that still endure today. Joe and his brothers and sisters all shared a delightful wry sense of humor that really shone when they were gathered for the rare family reunion. Guffaws and hoots of laughter made up the soundtrack of these events. He and his siblings would regale us with tales of “hooking”: the ability to latch onto the bumper of cars, squatting as though on an invisible steed, gliding along on their worn leather soled shoes, on Devil’s Lake’s icy snow-covered streets, being tossed into snow banks, or worse, hard-edged curbs, as they rounded corners, only to have the cars take off with their mittens frozen to the chrome bumper. Joe and his brothers and friends would compete for newspapers to sell on the corner by winning a footrace that started and ended at the newspaper office. The lucky first few would win a small stack of papers to sell for spending money. This was just one of many jobs Joe had while growing up. He had a paper route, was a candler at a Coca-Cola bottling company, was a furnace operator at a creamery, delivered blocks of ice, and worked summers at his Uncle Frank’s farm. Love of music and dancing were two things Joe and Vesta shared for many years. They were both born with the gift of rhythm and enjoyed country/western dancing as well as popular dance. For years, they purchased theater season tickets, taking the children to Russian ballet, symphony, and jazz performances followed by late-night stops for ice cream. The two were exceptional hosts often welcoming friends for nights of bridge and whist while Joe mixed Harvey Wallbangers to add to the fun. And you cannot think about Joe without thinking GOLF! He began playing when he caddied in high school and became a talented, avid golfer for over 70 years. He was also a leading member of the Army Rifle Team in the 1950s/1960s. He was an outdoorsman from a young age and would fish and hunt with his brother, Eddie, during the Great Depression, earning extra money selling pelts. Cutting a Hemingwayesque figure in life, he hunted bighorn sheep and caribou in Alaska, gazelle and wild boar in Iran, and pheasant and duck in the Dakotas. Joe had an infectious laugh, beautiful blue eyes framed by thick eyebrows, and quite the head of hair in his day, and a generous heart and spirit. As a boy and young man, Joe developed a strong work ethic that endured throughout his life and he often supported his family by taking second and even third jobs. His family always appreciated his example and the quiet, humble manner in which he carried out his fatherly responsibilities. He was preceded in death by his wife Vesta, father John, mother Dorothy, brothers Edward and Daniel, son Michael, daughter Lorraine, K., and granddaughter Robbi. He is survived by his children Gayle, Jacquelyn, Tomi, Kim, Joel, Jennifer, and Elizabeth, and his sisters, Elizabeth Ann, Agnes, and Francis. He was also blessed with nineteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. His ashes will be interred alongside those of his beloved wife, Vesta, at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery.