Robert L. “Bob” Arnsperger, 71, of Oak Grove, MO, passed away Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, February 1st at Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove; burial at 1:00 p.m. in Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, MO. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Crossroads Hospice.
Bob was born on February 16, 1944, son of Leroy F. and Hellen Arnsperger, of rural Salisbury, MO. He was raised on a dairy farm which he loved, working with Holstein cattle and horses. Bob graduated from the Salisbury R-4 High School. He was elected student body president, won the state FFA public speaking award, FFA State Farmer Award, and appointed State FFA Vice President. He attended the University of Missouri – Columbia, majoring in veterinary medicine until he was drafted while attending college and into the Army during the Vietnam “Conflict”. While in the Army, Bob was assigned to the Signal Corp as a field radio repairman. The only foreign country that he was stationed in was Fort Devens, Massachusetts, where he became the “Old Man’s” driver, mostly going after donuts for the orderly room. He was assigned to the burial details traveling around the New England area providing color guard for KIAs. Bob learned to fly while attending college at MU, and obtained his pilot’s license while at Fort Devens. After being discharge, he returned to Salisbury to continue to work on the dairy farm, helping to care for more than 600 dairy cattle and operating 2200 acres of row crop, hay and pasture ground. Bob designed and built Salisbury’s first hard surfaced airport, which was eventually sold to the city and subsequently closed by the city’s mayor (his ex-wife). He started Arnsperger Aviation Inc., giving flight instruction, aircraft rental, charter service and professional aerial application of pesticides (crop dusting) in seven states utilizing both fixed wing and helicopters. He often bragged about being the best helicopter spray pilot in the state of Missouri. Suppose he was: he was the only one in the state that was doing this type of work. As an FAA Certified Flight Instructor, he has never had any of his 28 student pilot applicants to fail a FAA exam. Bob flew helicopters in the Gulf of Mexico for Petroleum Helicopters Inc. As a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the Chariton County Sheriff’s Department, he flew several search missions for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Later, he became a full time deputy Sheriff for Jackson County Missouri, which he enjoyed helping people and patrolling. In 1986, he graduated from Penn Valley Community College with an associated degree in criminal justice. In 1989, he was hired by the Federal Aviation Administration as an FAA Operations Inspector, where he gave check-rides in both helicopters and airplanes, investigated accidents/incidents, and performed Air Carrier Surveillance for over 26 years. With over 12000 hours of helicopter experience, the FAA would often send him around the United States to perform special investigations on different helicopter operators. While working at the FAA, he was employed as a police officer to the City of Lone Jack, MO, attaining the rank of Lieutenant. In 2001, he joined the Jackson County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse. Within one year, he was appointed to the rank of Sergeant. Bob maintained his law enforcement commission throughout his career. He was the only FAA Inspector that was “FAA Armed Certified”.
Bob has always enjoyed working, and the different vocations that he has been involved in. He especially enjoyed being with his wife Michelle of 27 years, raising, breaking, and riding Missouri Foxtrotters. Weekends would find him and Michelle off riding in a parade, or in their motor home heading off somewhere to camp overnight with their horses and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Michelle of the home; two daughters: Kelly (Justin) Massie of Salisbury, MO, & Melissa (John) Wassergord of Olathe, KS; son, Mark Arnsperger of Moberly, MO; sister, Gayla (Herb) Fuemmeler of Slater, MO; special daughter-in-law, Melody Arnsperger of Moberly; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove, MO 816-690-4441