Michael A. Roberts

Michael Alan Roberts, 66, of Drexel, Missouri, passed away January 19, 2022. Funeral services will be 1PM, Friday, January 28 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes contributions be made to KC Pet Project (https://kcpetproject.org/donate/) or the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (https://www.firehero.org/donate/).

Michael, “Mike”, was born September 10, 1955 to William and Shirlene (Worley) Roberts at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended several schools in the KC metro area and graduated high school from Grain Valley, Missouri, in 1974. He followed in his father’s footsteps and in 1976 he became a Kansas City Firefighter. He married the love of his life, Dana Charlene Evans, on December 15, 1984. They lived in Kansas City and welcomed three rowdy, rambunctious boys to the world. They moved out of the city, south to the country in Drexel, Missouri, where they would have dogs, chickens, and countless other critters and crops.

Mike loved being a firefighter and he made this clear to everyone who knew him. Most of his career was spent at Station 19, at the corner of Broadway and 39th Street. After spending 19 years there, he would continue to work his way to FAO, driving Truck 4 out of Station 3. Mike loved to talk about his work and share stories with old buddies from the job. You could find his sons hanging around these conversations, growing a love for the same career. Once Will and Daniel joined KCFD, Mike had a renewed passion for the job. Mike ALWAYS had his scanner playing, listening for calls his boys would be running. He was sure to let them know when a fire was happening in their district, sometimes before the station bell rang. Mike was extremely proud of the work he did as a firefighter and the family tradition he was able to pass on to the next generation.

Mike always had a love for football and he would share this love with his sons. He helped coach and watched his boys as they played Pop Warner, high school, and in college. He and Dana made it a priority to be at every game the boys had, and they never missed. His face lit up with pride when Joe and Daniel would walk out on the field for Avila and dared anyone to try to get through them on the offensive line. Mike’s love for football continued with the Chiefs, as he and Joe would text after every play during games.

When Mike “retired,” he had plenty of chores around the farm waiting for him. The many rescue animals Dana brought home kept him busy. From dogs and cats, to horses and ducks, there was quite the farm on the Roberts’ property. You might find him tending the horses, checking the greenhouses, or collecting eggs to send home with anyone who came to visit.

He worked in the garden from spring to late fall with his wife and father-in-law. There were always plenty, sometimes too many, vegetables to share with the kids, neighbors and friends. After a long day of hard work, you could find Mike sitting with his cat, Taz, watching a football game or an old western.

When he found some free time on a nice summer day or a long weekend, Mike loved to spend time at his family lake house. Growing up going to Lake of the Ozarks, he made sure to share his love for the water with his kids. He taught his boys, and many of their friends, how to waterski, drive a boat, and the best fishing spots. You could find Mike by the grill cooking dinner, sitting in his spot in the house, or down by the water with friends. Mike had many friends in Warsaw at the lake. Countless neighbors would pop in when the Chiefs Truck was down to sit down and chat for an hour or two.

Mike was preceded in death by his father. He is survived by his mother; his wife, Dana; and sons, Joseph Michael Kelly Roberts and daughter, Scarlett; William Christopher Alan Roberts and fiancée, Paige Dosch; Eric Daniel Thomas Roberts and wife, Allison; his sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl and Bob Hicks; their son Jonathan, daughter Carisa, her husband Brad Moeller, and their children.

Acknowledgement
The family of Michael Roberts
would like to express our sincere thanks
to each of you for the many expressions
of kindness, delicious meals, support and love
you have shown us during this period of
bereavement. Your prayers and
your presence have been a
comforting blessing to each of us.

I'm Free
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard Him call.
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day.
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found that peace at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void, then fill
it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss.
Oh yes, these things I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee.
God wanted me now; He set me free!

The family would like to invite you to join them at
IAFF Local 42 Union Hall following the services.

6320 Manchester Ave.
Unit 42A
Kansas City, Mo 64133

Funeral services will be 1PM, Friday, January 28 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri.