Delmar Gene Senger

Delmar “Del” Gene Senger, 91, of Olathe, KS passed peacefully into his Heavenly home on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
Delmar was born November 25, 1931 in Wellman, Iowa, to William P. and Sylvia (Coffman) Senger.  
He graduated from Kinross High School in 1949.  He was a member of the basketball and baseball teams.  He attended McPherson College in McPherson, KS where he also played baseball.  
He served in the US Army during the Korean War as a Corporal in the artillery division and received a Purple Heart. 
Upon discharge from the Army, he returned to South English, IA to operate the Senger family dairy farm. 
On February 19, 1955, Delmar married the love of his life, Carolee, the daughter of Dyle and Tressie Morrison, also of South English, IA.  While still in South English, they had two children, Melia and Jeff.  

In 1961, they moved from the farm and Delmar worked as a grain merchandiser and manager in various communities in Kansas and Missouri.  He retired in 1987 as the Director of Feed Ingredients at Farmland Industries in Kansas City, MO. While at Farmland, he was known as “Mr. Baseball”, frequently taking clients to games to watch the KC A’s and later the KC Royals.  He also enjoyed the American Royal Livestock Show and Rodeo each November.

The family made their home in Overland Park, KS in 1966. Delmar was an active member of Johnson County Christian Church where he served as a deacon and elder.  After moving to Olathe, KS in 1991, he served at Olathe Christian Church as head of the Missions committee and was a member of the OWLS (Older, Wiser, Loving, Seniors).  Delmar and Carolee were members of the Pioneer Athletic Association at Mid America Nazarene University, in Olathe, rarely missing the basketball team play a ‘home’ game.

  After retirement and moving to Olathe, Delmar ‘continued to farm’, by planting a rose garden, so he would always be able to give Carolee a rose anytime he wished. 

Delmar enjoyed frequent trips back to Iowa for both Senger and Morrison family events and holidays.  In his heart, Iowa was always “Home On Earth”.  He was an ‘over 50 year member’ of the Farmer’s Lodge No. 168 in Kinross, IA.  He remained a member of the VFW, Post 4716 in Keota, IA and the Korean War Veterans Association. 

Delmar was honored for his military service with a Quilt of Valor, presented by his niece, Jeanne (Senger) Bayer, made by the Ladybug Quilters of Canton, GA in 2014.  Jeff accompanied Del on the Heartland Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in September, 2017.   In 2021, he was honored with an Ambassador For Peace Medal as an expression of gratitude from the Republic of Korea.  

Delmar lived his life showing others how to love the Lord, how to love family and friends and that laughter truly was the best medicine.  

Delmar is survived by his wife of 68 years, Carolee. His children, Jeff Senger and Melia (Mike) Sturdivan, all of Olathe, KS.  His 4 grandchildren,  Sean (Sarah) Sturdivan, Olathe, KS, Christopher (Katie) Senger, Tonganoxie, KS, Megan (Mark) Ernst, Olathe, KS and Brandon (Amanda) Senger, Boulder City, NV. His 9 great grandchildren, Aidan, Alex, Austin, Ella and Audrey Sturdivan, Chloe Senger, Evan Ernst, Carson and Hunter Senger. 
Brothers and Sisters in law, Marilyn Morrison, Wayne and Ellen Morrison, Marsha (Morrison) and Terry Steinhart and Jerry Bellinghausen and many, much loved nieces and nephews. 

Delmar was preceded in death by his parents, Will and Sylvia Senger; Mother and Father in law, Dyle and Tressie Morrison; brothers, Marvin Senger, Dale Senger, sisters in law, Mary Ellen Senger and Twila Bowen; brother in law, Don Morrison; sister in law, Deb (Morrison) Bellinghausen; daughter in law, Terri Senger. 

Graveside service will be held Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the English River Church of the Brethren Cemetery, South English, IA.

Celebration of Life Service to be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Olathe Christian Church, Olathe, KS.

In lieu of flowers,  memorial donations may be made to:
Farmer’s Lodge No. 168, 2695 Keokuk Iowa Road, North English, IA 52316;
VFW Post 4716, P.O. Box 283, Keota, IA 52248;
 or 
The Veterans Community Project, 8900 Troost Ave, KCMO 64131