Robert Allen Sayre

Bob was a larger-than-life figure who never met a stranger. He loved and cherished his family, especially his wife, Kathryn. He delighted in sharing his pictures and a story with everyone he met. With a great sense of humor and a lifelong love of music, Bob brought joy to those around him up to the very end. Over his 95 years, he touched countless lives and will be deeply missed.

Born January 4, 1930, in Elk City, Kansas, Bob was the youngest of four boys born to Aaron and Helen Sayre. His early life was marked by tragedy, which led to frequent moves between Kansas, Missouri, and the Chicago area. He liked to joke that his childhood nickname was “Mouse” because he was so quiet—something anyone who knew him as an adult would find hard to believe. The family later moved to Los Angeles, where his stepfather worked on movie lots. Bob often shared stories of skipping school to spend time on the Venice Pier or watching movies being filmed on Hollywood sets. By high school, he was back in Elk City, where he met his high school sweetheart, Kathryn. He loved nothing more than riding his horse to visit her on her family’s farm and spending the day together.

Bob left high school to join the Army, where he faithfully served for 26 years. During that time, he met, fell in love with, and married another Elk City girl, Anna Mae Buscher. Together, they traveled the world and raised three wonderful children: Michelle, Kathy, and Mike. Bob proudly served three tours in Vietnam, leading a squad that rescued downed aircraft in enemy territory. A highly decorated noncommissioned officer, he earned numerous accolades for his service during and after Vietnam. It is quite possible that many members of today’s military still enjoy his handiwork in recreation areas at Possum Kingdom, Fort Sill, Fort Rucker, and beyond.

After retiring to San Antonio, Texas, Bob was a man of many trades. Some of his favorite roles included working at Sutherland’s Lumber, building the KKYX booth at the San Antonio Rodeo each year, and serving as a Walmart greeter—where, of course, he never met a stranger.

After 50 strong loving years of marriage, Anna passed away. Bob made frequent trips back to Kansas to visit his brother-in-law, Hurschel, and it was there that he reunited with his high school sweetheart, Kathryn. Together they built a life he truly loved in Independence, Kansas. They traveled, they laughed, and above all, they loved each other deeply. Any visitor was treated to a tour of his beloved Kansas—always including Elk City, where he proudly showed off the house he designed for his basketball coach, walked through the high school sharing stories of his shenanigans, pointed out the barbershop where his dad worked, and of course taking pictures all along the way. And never tell Bob that Kansas is flat—he would happily point out every hill to prove otherwise. He treasured his monthly breakfasts at the Elk City VFW and his weekly gatherings with the Heartland Vietnam Veterans group in Independence.

Family meant the world to Bob. He was preceded in death by his parents, Aaron Sayre and Helen McCracken Sayre Meinke; his brothers, Lee, Bill, and Don; and his wife of 50 years, Anna. He leaves behind a legacy of love in his wife of 20 years, Kathryn; his children, Michelle,

Kathy (and husband Don), and Mike (and wife Rhonda); his stepdaughters, Linda and Connie, and their families. He deeply loved his grandchildren—Tammy, Kerri, Jenny, Kirsten, Kimberly, Brett, Clark, Luke, Scott, Wade, Melissa, and Karen—their families, his many great-grandchildren, and his countless nieces and nephews.

“Bad Bob’s” loss will be felt for years to come, but our love for him will never fade.

Until we meet again…