Luis Felipe Ocasio Rivera - 1956 - 2022

It was snowing on the day that Luis Felipe Ocasio Rivera passed away with his family at his bedside. As if to escape the cold, he succumbed to illness and entered his warm heavenly home on March 10, 2022 at 12:14 in the afternoon.

His life of 65 years began in Juncos, Puerto Rico on June 8, 1956 where he was born to the late Simon Ocasio and Regina Rivera. He was raised there with his only sibling, his sister Carmen. It was in Puerto Rico where he met his wife, started his family, and commenced a journey of adventure and service to his nation which begot the quiet life full of simple pleasures he enjoyed in his last years of life.

After graduating from Alfonzo Diaz Lebron High School, Luis enlisted in the United States Army, originally as an infantryman, reclassing later as a power generator mechanic. He was stationed both stateside and abroad, calling Fort Campbell, Fort Carson, Germany, Korea, and Fort Riley home while in service. He also deployed to Bosnia on a peacekeeping mission and to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom in support and defense of his nation. After over 20 years in service, he retired out of Fort Riley and settled with his family in Junction City, Kansas.

He will live on in the hearts and memories of those who called him dad, daddy, pa, papi, papito, negro, cayito, and chencho. He is survived by his wife of almost 39 years, Edelmira, four children, Edelis, Yamil, Kiara and her husband James, and four grandchildren, Gavin, Eli, Liam, and Mallorie. He will be remembered for so many things. We will never see a chessboard, a garden, or fishing gear in the same light. Nor will we be able to watch Disney or DreamWorks movies or hear a Forrest Gump quote without thinking of him. The dogs of the family, especially his own Pocoyo, will miss the human who led them in song, kept them chubby, and loved them dearly. We will miss his jokes, his laugh, and his top of the head kisses. His hugs and his unconditional love and support. And though our toes may be safe from the unexpected toe pull, we would gladly receive the sting of a cracked knuckle if it meant having him back with us.

The family will gather for a private service on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 followed by a graveside service with full military honors at Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery in Manhattan, Kansas at one o’clock in the afternoon.