Roger Dean Rhoads

Roger Dean Rhoads 56 passed away Monday February 5th 2018 at North Kansas City Hospital. Roger attended Center High School in south Kansas City as well as Fort Scott High School in Fort Scott (KS). After earning his diploma he enlisted in the United State Navy and proudly served on the flight deck of the USS Independence. On June 20th 1988 he entered the Kansas City Missouri Fire Department Academy and started his career in the Fire Service. He was promoted to the rank of Fire Apparatus Operator and served at many stations and was one of the original members of the Rescue Division were he proudly served on Rescue 9. After contracting an occupational lung illness he was removed from suppression duties and transferred to the Fire Academy. After becoming the lead fire instructor at the Academy Roger was responsible for training well over 400 cadets. Roger was preceded in death by: his mother Thelma Rhoads, his father Ralph (Jack) Rhoads II, youngest brother Ralph Rhoads III, sister-in-law Tammy Rhoads, and sister-in-law Diane Rhoads. He is survived by: wife Erin Rhoads, daughter Sarah Rhoads, son Gabriel Rhoads, grandchildren Andre and Ari Jones, brother Rick Rhoads, brother Don Rhoads, nephew DuWayne Rhoads, niece Kelley (Robbie) Reynolds, niece Laura Rhoads, and many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins. Visitation will be held Monday February 12, 2018 from 4pm to 9pm at St. Thomas More Catholic Church 11822 Holmes Kansas City Mo 64131. Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday February 13th at 11am at St Thomas More with internment at Mt. Olivet 7601 Blue Ridge Blvd Raytown Mo. 64138 immediately following mass. The family asks in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the International Association of Firefighters Local 42 Community Assistance Fund (6320 Manchester Ave, Suite 42A, Kansas City Mo, 64133)