Robert “Bob” Garcia, age 84, passed away on January 04, 2026. Bob was born in Kansas City, Missouri on August 16, 1941, to parents, Dora and Jess Garcia. Bob was raised alongside his best friend and brother, Rudy Garcia.
He married his beloved wife and life partner Patti Garcia in 1967. Together, they raised their four children in Westwood, Kansas. Living just across the street from the church, Bob became an indispensable member of St. Agnes Parish, founding the Hispanic Ministry and establishing Spanish Mass that built community among Hispanic parishioners. He sat on countless boards for the church and diocese. His faith and church community were a priority in his life.
Bob was the ideal patriarch, creating a home filled with love, laughter, music, dancing, abundant food, and deep faith. He took great pride in his Mexican heritage and honored it through his traditions and values. After nearly forty years with the U.S. Postal Service, he retired to devote time to the things that mattered most— food and family. He cherished time with his children and ten grandchildren and remained present at every stage of their lives. He traveled with them, joined them for dinners, called them regularly to share a laugh, and showed up for each and every milestone, big or small. After retirement he managed his brother’s restaurant, Rudy’s Tenampa Taqueria, where he offered the same warmth to everyone he met. Bob never met a stranger; he took time to learn each person’s story and always found common ground.
His spirit lives on in the lives of those he leaves behind, including his four children, BJ (Regina) Garcia, Melissa (Tomas) Melgoza, and Maryann (Scott) Hueschen, and Melinda Garcia (Martin Wehrenberg), and ten grandchildren: Emilio Olivas, Elissa Pearl, Carlos Olivas, Sofia Melgoza, Izabel Melgoza, Tommy Melgoza, Oscar Garcia, Olivia Garcia, Ava Garcia, and Mia Garcia. Great granddaughters Ella and Esme Olivas.
A visitation will be held on Sunday, January 11th, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a rosary at 5:00 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, January 12th, at 10:00 a.m. Both services will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5250 Mission Rd, Roeland Park, KS 66205.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Patti Garcia Scholarship Fund: https://www.pattigarciascholarshipfund.org/donate
