Robert "Bobby" Joseph Rocha

Robert “Bobby” Joseph Rocha, age 59, of Kansas City, MO passed away the morning of Saturday, November 21, 2020 after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. A drive through visitation will be held from 1pm – 3pm on Sunday, November 29, 2020, where people may sign the register book and pay their respects to the family, at the McGilley Antioch Chapel, 3325 NE Vivion Road, Kansas City, MO 64119. The Memorial Service will be Monday, November 30, 2020 at 10am and will be closed to the public due to COVID-19 limitations. However, the service will be livestreamed and viewable on the McGilley Antioch Chapel Facebook page. Burial will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.

Bobby was born on March 19, 1961 in Kansas City, Missouri to parents Agustine E. and Theresa (Barbosa) Rocha. He graduated from Winnetonka High School in 1979.

His career included time working for various manufacturing facilities and driving for Yellow Freight before he was accepted by the city of Kansas City Missouri Fire Department as a cadet. He was among the first who also had to qualify as an Emergency Medical Technician. He soon grew to love his job, both because of the excitement of fighting fires, and also because of his great compassion for those in need. His outlook and perspective on life was profoundly altered as he entered the world of First Responders. His career path took him to the position of Captain, May 5th, 2013.

Captain Rocha was a true leader of men. He spoke plainly and truthfully, in a language understood by those he addressed. He would let you know what he thought, while loving you at the same time. If you needed correction, he would correct. If you needed direction, he would direct. If compassion, compassion, if consolation, consolation. If he considered you worthless, he’d let you know that too.

He loved life, that is true, but his true love came from knowing that God loved him, unconditionally. He reflected his faith in being the kind of man God made him to be. He loved and ultimately gave his life because of love, unconditionally.

Achievements can be categorized and dated. However, it would be short sighted and negligent to create such a list. Captain Rocha, Bobby Rocha, impacted lives on and off duty. He would visit patients he took to the hospital because of his love of people, true love. He was a great friend and had literally thousands of friends across the country. His friends would sacrifice themselves for Bobby because they knew, they know, that he would do the same. No cost was too great. Robert believed the words of the gospel of John, chapter 15, verse 13. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Captain Rocha’s hobbies were a big part of his life. He began riding motorcycles at about 12 years old. It began a life of hundreds of thousands of miles on two wheels. Many friends were made because of his two wheeled life. Another of his great loves was music. He would sing, loved to sing the songs he loved at Karaoke and was one of the best. He sang as he lived, from his heart and soul.

Captain Rocha is preceded in death by his parents, Agustine E and Theresa B Rocha. Surviving relatives include his brother and spouse George E and Jo Ann Rocha. Sister Terri McWilliams and spouse, Brady. Brother John R and spouse Deborah Rocha. Robert also leaves his Son, Riley R and spouse, Cassie Rocha, Daughter Heather and spouse Keith Mozey, Daughter, Remi Rocha and their mother, Kimberly Rocha, Grandsons Bennett and Wyatt Burnich. Robert also leaves his partner in life, Missy Long.

Captain Robert, “Bobby” Rocha will long be remembered by those who knew him. May his example raise the bar on how we treat others and life.