Anselm Robles

Anselm J. (Sam) (Carlos) Robles, 87, was born July 14, 1925 and died at the home Thursday, May 23, 2013 surrounded by his adopted family. Avoiding deportation, at age of six Sam was left at the Kansas City Orphanage. He believed his name to be Anselmo, which the orphanage Americanized to Anselm, but he went by Sam. Later in life his Marine recruiter insisted upon a middle name and Sam quickly chose Joseph, which was his patron saint. Much later in life at the insistence of social security administration for birth records, Sam discovered his legal birth name to have been Carlos.
An epitome of the Greatest Generation, Sam's determination, self-reliance and faith led him through a precarious journey from immigrant family, orphanage, high grades earning a scholarship to a preparatory boarding school, USMC surviving beach landings as an infantryman in the battles of Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, then as a combat medic at Iwo Jima, college and graduate school, accountant, supervisor and manager, while being a teacher, coach and mentor to anyone who were blessed by the fortune of crossing his path.
As the consummate project manager, Sam prepared his own burial plans, took quotes from funeral homes before "awarding the bid," and wrote his own obituary. It is as follows:
Anselm J. Robles is survived by the Hinkle Family of Patrick J. and LeAnn Hinkle, their son Jason and Melissa Hinkle, their daughter Amelia and Ed Kovac, grandchildren, Emma, Milé, and Shelby Hinkle, and Dylan Kovac.
Sam was born in Kansas City Kansas, lived and graduated from Kansas City Missouri Elementary school inside the Kansas City Boys Orphanage Home, he also graduated from the Maur Hill Preparatory High School in 1942, and Rockhurst College in 1950 with a BS degree in Accounting and Economics.
He worked for the Waste Division of Crook Paper Company, U.S. Engineering-Lockman, the CPA firms of Davey & Rader, J. Crouch, T.N.B. & S. now known as Deloitte, then was hired by the City of Kansas City Missouri in 1958, retiring after 33 years as Assistant to the Director of Water and Pollution Control in 1992.
Sam served in the Marine Corps from 1942-1945 in the south pacific during WWII with the 4th Marine Division and he received medals. He was a member of VFW #6654 Desoto and DAV Chapter 1 in KCK.
He coached elementary age and high school girls softball, boys baseball, boys soccer, boys basketball with HSSA, Optimist leagues and Parks and Rec leagues. He umpired slow pitch softball with Parks and Rec in KCMO, Gladstone, NKC, church and private leagues for over 25 years. He was an active bowler throughout his life. He bowled like the weather- good and bad.
Survivors also include brothers Rudolph Robles of Overland Park Kansas, Faustin Robles of Diamond Head Mississippi, Manuel Robles of Prairie Village Kansas. He was preceded in death by parents Guadalupe and Delores Robles, brother Joe Robles of Dallas Texas and Alfred Robles of California. Sam was a member of St Paul's Catholic Church of Olathe.
In lieu of flowers, Sam requested contributions to St. Paul Catholic Church Olathe, and VFW #6654 Desoto.