Phil Xavier Senger, 79, of Excelsior Springs, MO, passed away Oct. 29, 2022, at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO, from a devastating stroke. A Celebration of Life memorial will be held at noon on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Barbee Presbyterian Church in Excelsior Springs, MO. Visitation will be held from 6:00pm to 8:00pm the night before, Friday, Nov. 18, also at Barbee Presbyterian Church. Inurnment will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, at the Marysville City Cemetery in Marysville, KS. 

Mr. Senger was born July 29, 1943, in Rock Island, IL. He married Sharon Lee Millenbruch on June 4, 1969, in Marysville, KS. 

Phil attended elementary school and high school in Davenport, IA. He graduated from Central High School in 1961 and attended St. Ambrose College for two years in Davenport. He transferred to Iowa State University and graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He was a graduate teaching assistant in English at Kansas State University starting in the fall of 1965. He earned master’s degrees in English and in Business Administration. He was a member of Barbee Presbyterian Church and sang in the church choir. He worked at the Social Security Administration and later at the Missouri Division of Employment Security, both in Kansas City, MO. After retirement, he substitute-taught at the local area Career Center and wrote for the Excelsior Springs Standard. He regularly attended Community Theater and High School events. He loved encouraging young people, especially local talent. He loved engaging in lengthy conversations with anyone on any topic and had knowledge on a wide variety of subjects to draw on. 

His main interests were hunting and photography. He was a self-professed “current events junkie,” following the news from all over the world, and reading voraciously. He traveled to most states in this country, including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as China and Great Britain.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Margaret (Novotny) Senger of Davenport, Iowa. He is survived by his wife Sharon, of the home; daughter Susan Mason (Kurt) of Kansas City, MO; son Steven Senger (Ximena) of Springfield, MO; grandsons Mark and Erik Mason, and Luka Alfaro; brother Charlie Senger (Bettie), honorary brother, Duane Cox, and many nieces and nephews. He was a friend to many and never knew a stranger. 

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in Phil’s memory to Alzheimer’s Disease Research, c/o BrightFocus Foundation 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871, 800 437-2423; info@brightfocus.org or KCUR 89.3 FM, 4825 Troost, Suite 202, Kansas City, MO 64110, kcur@kcur.org; 816 235-5287.