Rocky John Urschel is more alive now than ever, as he is safe with Jesus in heaven.  What an absolute blessed hope and promise we as believers have in Jesus.  We read in 1 Corinthians that “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” As you are reading this, Rocky is already experiencing it.  God is faithful and true, and He keeps His promises.

Rocky was born in Medicine Hat to his very excited parents, Tammy and Travis on August 26, 2007.  It was such an easy birth that about 5 minutes later, the Doctor asked when we would be having another kid.  He filled our lives with joy right from the start, being such an easy baby and a pleasure to have around.  We traveled a fair bit with him when he was an only child, from Cuba to Nova Scotia to Ontario and Alberta.  Being a handsome, smiling baby, he was loved and admired everywhere we went.  He was so excited to become a big brother when Presley came around, and also when Lucy came, and then Trixie, and he was super pumped when he finally got his little brother Tuff!  After the fourth born girl, Queenie, he decided we should be done having kids.  He joked about that, but he loved and looked after each and every one of his siblings.

Rocky grew up with many good friends in Medicine Hat until we moved when he was 3 to Saskatoon and then Martensville a few months later.  Rocky was a natural leader and an easy friend to others.  Leaving friends and football buddies in Martensville was hard when he was almost 12 as God led our family to Prince Albert.  But he again was quick to make friends and enjoy a new football team in the River Riders program and then his ultimate joy in playing for Coach Strachan and the Carlton Crusaders for high school.   His final year of high school football was the best season he ever had, and although he missed the final game due to injury, his team won the provincial final.  It was such a huge highlight for him, and he was so pumped to get his Provincial Champion hoodie and ring.

Growing up, Rocky was a very active and fun-loving little man.  He would lead his siblings in all kinds of fun adventures and things that only homeschool families can do and appreciate.  Rocky was homeschooled from kindergarten through his almost completion of Grade 12 (before he was T boned in a car accident coming home from work on April 25, 2025, where his natural body was killed instantly).  We are so incredibly thankful that we got to have all those years and all that special time with him that we would have missed out on if we never homeschooled.  We truly enjoyed life as a family together from skating and walks to sledding and swimming.  So much time was spent outdoors biking and picnicking, hiking, fishing, exploring and painting rocks.  Growing up Rocky tried various sports but the thing he truly loved was football, to the point that we started a winter football training program in Martensville so that he would have something to do at that time of year.  Travis was so blessed to have been able to coach him from age 6 through 11 until we moved to Prince Albert.  Rocky believed God was leading him into football for a career, and the weekend of his funeral, him and Travis were booked to fly out to BC for a football tryout camp.

We had planned to do a graduation trip with each kid in their grade 12 year.  Rocky and Travis flew to LA in November for a College football and NFL football game.  They have so many precious memories from that, and we are so thankful we never waited until the end of grade 12 to do it.

Rocky was always an honest kid.  He never lied or was deceitful.  He was a blessing to us from birth through his teenage years and we looked forward to a continuing fabulous relationship.  Rocky enjoyed being able to work with his dad on various jobs.  While he wasn’t the biggest fan of the carpentry side (even though he could do the work), he really enjoyed the sport of gopher killing with Travis.  He was never into drinking or drugs or women and he tried to follow God the best he could.  There is such a deep thankfulness in our hearts to God for making a way that we can all be together again.  The bible says our lives on earth are like a vapor, and before you know it, we will be enjoying that heavenly reunion.  Rocky is already enjoying being reunited with his maternal grandparents, Bruce and Karen (2013) and finally meeting his miscarried siblings (2006, 2012, 2015, 2021 & 2021).

What can you say about an earthly life of only 17 years? It’s far too short for us on this side of heaven.  He was still learning, growing and maturing slowly into who God wanted him to be.  There is such an ache and emptiness where he should be-his spot at the table, his parking spot, his chores, his bedroom, his hugs, his jokes, his laughter.  We rejoice that he is safe in heaven-that’s the entire goal of parenting-to make sure our kids have a relationship with Jesus and will be in heaven when they die.  But we still hurt with the memories.  We don’t know the future-only God does-we need to live ready.  You need to live ready.

A Celebration of Rocky’s life was held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Prince Albert Bridge Ministry, 717 MacArthur Dr. Prince Albert, SK.  In lieu of other tributes, donations in Rocky’s name may be made to Carlton Crusaders Football Team, C/O Carlton High School, 665 28 St E, Prince Albert, SK S6V 6E9

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Marianne Turcotte, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322.

• Date : 2025-04-25
• Location : Prince Albert, SK