Roger Gene Koss, 75, passed away November 28, 2023 at his home in Price, Utah. Roger was born on December 31, 1947 in Price to John and Mary Juvan Koss. Married JoAnn Hayes Basso on December 28, 1984. He loved and cared for JoAnn and her kids, Tony and Debbie and daughter-in-law Jessica Vasquez and granddaughter Katrina.
Roger grew up surrounded by cousins working hard and playing on the Koss family farm. He attended Carbon High School, graduating in 1966, all while working after school and on weekends farming with his dad. He attended the College of Eastern Utah for two years until he was drafted to serve in Vietnam. He went to Fort Lewis, Washington for army basic training then went to Fort McAllen, Alabama for advanced training in transportation where he drove trucks and hauled material.
After returning to Price, he worked for the State of Utah Road Department. He drove coal trucks for Western Coal Company for 28 years and was known by the handle “Blacky” for his ever-present black cowboy hat. He was a foreman for the Price/Wellington canal company, a board member for the Water Conservancy District and was also the President of the Pioneer 2 water company. He also enjoyed working at the fairgrounds, grooming the arenas for barrel racing, high school and pro rodeos. He enjoyed being a part of the rodeo community. He was recently nominated in July as an Honorary Cowboy for the National Day of the American Cowboy, a national program to honor and award cowboys across the nation.
He loved family, farming and his animals. When JoAnn was alive, she could be found sitting next to him in his truck or bailing hay with him. He loved their long drives together through the beautiful mountains of Utah. He tenderly cared for her throughout her illnesses until her passing.
He spent many hours with nieces and nephews working on the farm, especially with his nephew Paul. He enjoyed taking his granddaughter Katrina to her riding club competitions for 10 years and gained friends in the riding club community. He was a big “softy” when it came to the kids. He loved visiting with family and his great-nieces and nephews. They could often be found sitting snuggled into his lap. He also cared for his parents and checked in on his grandmother daily as she aged.
He will be dearly missed by his sister, Judy (Rudy) Metelko; brother, Ronnie (Renee) Koss; nieces and nephews, Rudy Metelko, Janice (Mike) Chandler, Paul (Lindsey) Metelko, Kim Koss, Kevin (Shauna) Koss; daughter-in-law, Jessica (Jeremy) Vasquez; his granddaughter, Katrina (Dakota) Nichols; great-grandson, Cooper; 11 great-nieces and nephews, many cousins and lifelong friends.
Special acknowledgements to his sister Judy, Rudy, Paul, Lindsey, Rudy Jr, Katrina and Dakota, Jessica and Jeremy, his nurse Candice, the hospice staff from Symbii, Pinnacle Nursing and Dr. Doug Larsen who all took amazing care of him as he battled his recent health challenges.
Preceded in death by his wife JoAnn, parents, Mary and John Koss; his sister, Juanita; and brother-in-law, Blair Blazer.
Funeral service, Saturday, December 2, 2023, 1:00 p.m., Mitchell Funeral Home (233 East Main Street) in Price where the family will receive friends one hour prior to service. Interment, Cliffview Cemetery, Price. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home of Price and Huntington where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net. In memory of Roger, the family has requested memorial donations to the Carbon High School Rodeo Scholarship Fund.