Agustin E. ROCHA

ROCHA, BARBOSA, MCWILLIAMS, WEST, WARDLOW, THOMAS, PACHECO

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/6/2014 at 18:59:25

March 25, 1912 --- December 13, 2004

Agustin E. Rocha was born March 25, 1912, to Agustin, Sr. and Amanda Rocha, in Georgetown, TX; Agustin went to be with his Lord on December 13, 2004. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m., Friday, December 17, at St. Raphael Catholic Church. Burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. The first born of 10 children, his life was filled with blessings, and was truly a picture of the American dream. His family lived in San Antonio, TX, when they left for the fields of Iowa, where they worked in the beet fields. It was in Iowa where bonds were formed with other migrant families that endure to this day. Agustin was the first Mexican-American to graduate from Belmond High School, Class of 33, where he graduated in the top of his class. He was in debate and was a reporter for the High School paper when he got his start with the town paper. He moved his whole family to Kansas City in 1938, and was inducted into the army in 1943. He was a staff sergeant in CO. A, 315th Regiment, 79th infantry Division in Europe and took part in the Normandy Landing, fighting on Utah Beach, the battle of the Bulge and the Rhineland Campaign. He returned to his family after the war, taking care of his parents until their death. He met and married the love of his life, Theresa Barbosa in 1954, and started his family. He moved to the Northland in 1962. He worked for the Kansas City Kansan from 1960-1978, where he retired as a proof reader.

He was preceded in death by his parents Agustin and Amada; brothers Albert, Peter, Santos, and Tony; sisters Esperanza and Louisa. He is survived by his wife Theresa, of the home; and children George Rocha, Ozawkie, KS, Bradie and Terri McWilliams, Gladstone, MO, Robert and Kimberly Rocha, Kansas City, MO, and John and Deborah Rocha, Kansas City, MO; grandchildren Angela Rocha West, Richard and Kristin McWilliams, Heather Wardlow, Riley and Remi Rocha, Wade and Ashleigh Thomas; and brothers Aurelio and Carmen Rocha, Pomona, CA, Raymond Rocha, Rancho Cucamonga, CA; and sister and brother-in-law Manuel and Mary Pacheco, Estancia, NM; and many nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed.

Kansas City Star - Kansas City, Missouri
December 15, 2004