Cartoonist Robert "Bob" Duane Zschiesche was born in Prophetstown, Illinois, in 1929. He attended the University of Illinois for one semester, working as a cartoonist for the campus paper, the Daily Illini. He then moved to Chicago and enrolled at the Art Institute, graduating around 1949. He was then tapped to work on Frank King's famed "Gasoline Alley" syndicated strip. From 1950 to 1963 Zschiesche lived and worked in Florida, working for King and then his successor, Dick Moore. 

In 1963 Zschiesche's focus turned to political cartooning. He began working for the Greensboro Daily News in North Carolina and, as the Vietnam War began ramping up - along with its opposition - Zschiesche's editorial cartoons regarding Lyndon Johnson and his cabinet bolstered his reputation as one of the nation's leading comic artists. Later, one such cartoon from 1967 was featured in the National Archives commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights.  

Among Zschiesche's syndicated comics were "Our Folks," "Harley Hogg," and a collaboration with cartoonist Fred Lasswell called "Snuffy Smith" for which Zschiesche faxed in his contributions from his home to Illinois to Lasswell in Florida. 

Zschiesche died on April 12, 1996. His work is included in the collection of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum at Ohio State University.