Albert Joseph ‘AJ’ Basinger
Services for Albert Joseph (AJ) Basinger, 83, of Vandalia, will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday at Vandalia Baptist Church Family Life Center with the Rev. Glenn Forman and the Rev. Brian Lehenbauer officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by Laddonia American Legion Post #510 will be in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Vandalia.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-7 p.m., at the church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bienhoff Funeral Homes.
Mr. Basinger died Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 at Tri-County Care Center with his loving family surrounding him.
He was born Sept. 9, 1933 in Holts Summit, the son of Joseph Albert and Edna Lucille Kramp Basinger. He was married to Wanda Jo Lovelace on March 9, 1954 in Vandalia. She survives.
Other survivors include: two sons, Monte Basinger and wife, Marilyn of Vandalia, and Jeffrey Basinger and wife, Kathy of Centralia; three daughters, Sherri Allen and husband, Mike, and Shelly Buie and husband, Chris, both of Vandalia, and Tammy Purk and husband, Eddie of Bowling Green; two sisters, Agnes Weinpert of Richland and Joan Gooch and husband, Richard of Vandalia; one brother in law, Jim Lovelace and wife, LaRita of Mexico; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one son, Michael J. Basinger, and one grandson, Matthew Jordan Purk.
Mr. Basinger was a lifetime area resident and farmer. He also worked at C&E Refractories for 33 years and drove a bus for the Van-Far School District for 23 years. He was a 1952 graduate of Farber High School. He then served his country in the US Air Force from Nov. 14, 1952-Nov. 13, 1956 and attained the rank of Airman First Class.
He was a member of the Vandalia First Baptist Church and very active in his community. He was a khoury league coach for 23 years and served as the khoury league area representative for many years. He served as a 4–H leader for over 20 years.
Being an avid sports fan and Booster Club member, he assisted by running the clock at the Van-Far football games. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, woodworking and telling stories.
Pallbearers will be Joe Basinger, Jason Allen, Dalton Buie, Cody Buie, Zac Erwin, and Jordan Ayers. Honorary pallbearers will be Lora Michaels, Jessica Erwin, Kristin Ayers, Jennifer Purk, Megan Purk and his great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vandalia YMCA Project, c/o Vandalia Recreation Corp., P.O. Box 91, Vandalia, MO 63382 or the Farber Community Betterment Association, Attention: Vernell Hull, 313 W. Main St., Farber, MO 63345.
Online condolences may be made at www.bienhoffuneralhome.com.
