Robert L. “Bob” Waters, 89, of Hastings, Nebraska, formerly of Seneca, Kansas died Friday, August 9, 2013 at Perkins Pavilion care center in Hastings. He would have been 90 years old in four more days.

Bob was born on August 13, 1923 to Patrick H. and Lena Winkler Waters in Marysville, Kansas. With the family farm located between Axtell and Baileyville, he started grade school in Axtell and then graduated from Baileyville High School in 1941.

Bob proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II from 1942 to 1946. He was assigned to the seaplane tender USS Belknap. In January 1945 the Belknap was performing shore bombardment and beach reconnaissance ahead of an amphibious landing at Luzon in the Phillipines, when she was struck by a lone kamikazi attack plane, resulting in 38 U.S. fatalities and 49 injuries. Repairs to the ship were sufficient only to sail her back to the U.S. for scrapping. At this time Bob was reassigned to the aircraft carrier USS Ranger. He was discharged as a Machinist’s Mate Second Class V-6, having served in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. After military service, Bob returned to Kansas to work on the family farm.

Bob married Evelyn Melcher on November 27, 1948 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict, Kansas. Theirs was the first wedding where the church allowed photographs to be taken inside. They were married for 64 years.

In the post-war years, Bob was hired by the Union Pacific Railroad as a telegraph operator. He and Evelyn moved to Carr, Colorado and western Kansas following the railroad job. They settled in Seneca, where Bob worked in the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for over 35 years before his retirement.

His hobbies were fishing, gardening, bird watching, and following any sports or news of any kind related to Kansas State University.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn of Hastings; three children, Jane (Chris) Mudd, of Oklahoma City, Susan (Mike) Uridil of Hastings, and Mike (Connie) Waters of Colorado Springs; seven grandchildren: Andrew, Annie and Matt Mudd, Chris and John Uridil, Molly Engelhardt and Alex and Greg Waters; and seven great-grandchildren: Caden, Witten and Colton Mudd, Creighton, Jack and Loren Uridil, and Hannah Englehardt.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick and Lena Waters; two brothers, Wilbur and Patrick Waters; and three sisters, Eileen, Ferneese and Mary Ann.

Bob was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, Kansas and the St. Joseph Society at church. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1769, Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Earl W. Taylor Post #21 of the American Legion, all in Seneca.

A rosary will be prayed at 7 PM Tuesday, August 13, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 AM Wednesday, August 14, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca. Burial will be in the church cemetery, with full military honors provided by the Seneca VFW and American Legion.

Memorials may be given for Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Seneca or St. Cecilia Church in Hastings.