William James Rocke passed away peacefully June 9, 2013. He was born July 23, 1924 in Grand Junction Colorado. He is survived by his wife Garnet of 48 years. Bill had two sons, Jim of Phoenix, AZ., and Bill Jr. of Grand Junction, CO. He has 3 grand children, Raquel, Katie, and Ethan by his son Jim. Bill was a combat veteran of WWII in the South Pacific. He has a law degree from Denver University. Bill founded Frontier Adjusters Inc. in 1957 which went on to become a nationwide firm. Friends may visit the family between 6pm – 8pm this Thursday, June 13th at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity in memory of Bill Rocke.
Diana Ace
I work with Jim, your son, I want to express my deep condolence at the loss of your husband and father. I know that he is sitting with God right now and has no more suffering.
Bill Reinert, Sr. and Jr.rontier Adjusters Yuma
Our condolences to Garnet and family at the loss of your loved one. We consider Bill as a very good friend and we keep asking ourselves and family “where would we be today if it wasn’t for Bill Rock. He did so much for us and it would take forever for me to write all of the good things he did for us and made our business in Yuma and El Centro a success. May he rest in peace.
Clive Tricker
I met Bill only once very briefly at a Frontier convention in 2011. He made a big impression on me and I have heard so many incredible stories about his integrity and the trust and faith that he showed in owners starting up with Frontier.
Please accept my sincere condolences.
Bob Phipps
He was a genius and a true visionary. He was also my friend, he will be missed.
Lee Barker Frontier Hilton Head, SC
Garnet, Jim and Family:
Our sincere condolences.
A good husband, father, businessman and friend is now in heaven. May the healing balm of God comfort you during this time of loss. Bill Rocke will be missed by many. He has helped many men and women create a good claims business in order to provide well for their families. He is now in a holy place where there are no more tears and only Joy and Peace!
May God bless you all with His peace that passes all understanding.
Lee and Dedra Barker
Cheryle T. Hugo
Bill was a great man and one of a kind in our life time. He is why I joined Frontier and I will always consider it a great honor to have known him, his wonderful wife Garnet and his son Jim. Bill Rocke trusted in me and so many others who joined his company. He gave us a chance to succeed as no one, but Mr. Bill Rocke could or would have done. My deepest sympathy to Garnet and their entire family and loved ones, in the loss of such a great husband, father and friend. I am sure that Bill Rocke is at peace with our Lord in heaven. Few have left this world so much a better place, nor enriched so any lives, as Bill Rocke did. My prayers are with all of you who loved, respected, and mourn him.
Bill Bolen
My heart aches at the news of this great man having left us. Bill was a great example to all of us. He was a proud American, a veteran, my mentor and my friend and he was a faithful servant to America and the American way of life. He was the Entrepreneur’s Entrepreneur. He earned and he shared with a heart as big as all Arizona. When he gave his word; that truly was his bond. You could take that to the bank…. literally. Bill always had a way of uplifting the spirit of whomever he was talking with. Any time spent with Bill was always time very well spent. God never gave Bill to us, he just lent him to us for a short while. No matter the number of years, for us, it was too short and we hate to see him go, We will miss him greatly. God bless Garnet and the family and may they find comfort that they had the exalted privilege of having had Bill in their life. What an honor! What a privilege! Rest well my friend.
Clarence R. Bolton
Bill gave me a chance to run my own company and the deal was sealed with a handshake. I will never forget him and will be eternally grateful to him for what he did for me. I pray that God will shower His blessings of peace on his family in this time of sorrow.
Frontier Adjusters of Richmond, Virginia
Frontier Adjusters of Southern Colorado
So sorry to hear about the loss of Bill. Our deepest condolences to Garnet and family. We have been part of Frontier Adjusters for 30 years and know how hard Bill worked to make this company successful.
Warren Bistline
Bill Rocke will live on in my memory. There are few people outside of family who have had a serious impact on my life. Bill Rocke’s name is on that short list. My wife Mary and I are grateful for the the relationship we had with him.
Warren Bistline (and Mary)
Frontier Adjusters of Cincinnati (1983 – 2005)
Phil Shiively
Rocke as he was known by me was one great man whose handshake was his word.
He traveled to Grand Junction, Colorado the summer of 1976 to discuss my obtaining a Frontier Adjusters office in Boulder, Colorado. That was my beginning with Rocke and in the first couple years he brought me down to Phoenix where he took my wife and I out to breakfasts, dinners and showed us a good time. He arranged the transportation, the rental car, the hotels and it was simply just fun to be around that man. I know he now is in a better place and I want to express my condolences to his family as I know this must be a very hard time for them.
Andrew Logan
My condolences. A truly one of a kind gentlemen who helped many people fulfill their dreams.
Jerry Miler & Kathy
Garnet & Jim, Condolence on your loss. Bill was special, it was like he had 400 other children, which were the owners operators. When I met him about Frontier he agreed to keep Nashville open for me for a year which was 28 years ago. We all know when Bill told you something it was like it was cast in stone. I an glad the I was able to come to Phoenix a lot and met will all three of you. I know it will be hard for some time. Bill more than likely Bill has re done the heavenly claim department just in case.
John Chaney
Bill was to me, the best friend and mentor, ever. He put me “on the map”. Bill treated people with honor and respect. His folksy expressions were simple, humorous and made a point. He always ended a conversation on a friendly note. Typically to me by saying “You can go back to sleep now !”
Best to Bill’s family and friends.
John Chaney
Jack Barrett
Bill Rocke will always be remembered along with other exceptional people in our business like Paxton Dent and Doug Felt, who helped Bill build Frontier Adjusters from the the bottom up.
He was truly one of the last “Your word is your honor” men in the business.
God bless.
Steve Sparhawk--Sioux Faslls, SD
The family already knows the greatness and love of this man. Some others of us knew him personally as one who would fly out to see us to discuss ownership of a branch office and offer us the chance to be a proud independant business partner–and on a handshake , as so many have witnessed. I was one of those and will never forget him.
If love and respect are transmitted to Heaven, Bill will be comfortable forever.
I extend my my wishes of condolance and shared love and support to those closest to him. His memory will keep us all warmer and considerably more appreciative of life.
Steve Sparhawk
Susan Denning
Though I have never met Bill Rocke he was so well known by all of us Frontier claims folks. He, our founding father was known for his brilliance, integrity, kindness, etc. Thank You Bill Rocke, you will remain as our legendary leader forever. May god bless you and your family.
Cary Alexander (Frontier Adjusters of Hays, KS.)
A man that ran a business on Honor & a Handshake, his word was in fact his word. Truly a concept unfortunately little seen anymore. The man helped me start on a wing & prayer, his trust was always an inspiration to me, & a man who I wanted to succeed for & in doing so succeed for myself. Our thoughts are with you in his passing.
Dennis Cordial
Bill Rocke had the unique ability to make everyone feel enthused and revitalized after speaking with him.My first impression was of a great intellect which meant a great wit from whom no one was safe. I always new that he would make great effort to always take the high road and encourage all to do the same. He loved his family and cared about his frontier family. Dennis Cordial, Kathie Eckle and Don Likens Columbus oh
Michael Bussio
I met Bill in 1986 when I went to Phoenix to meet him, a requirement at that time to acquire a Frontier franchise. From that day to this, I will remember him as honest, caring and someone I knew I could count on to help me succeed. Bill made me feel like a part of a family, rather than a franchisee and he will always have a special place in my heart. My sincere condolences to Garnet, Jim and the whole Rock family, May he rest in peace..
Reno, NV
Steve Alexander
With deep sorrow Mary and I were advised of Mr. Roches passing. He was as fine a man as anyone would meet or have the privilege of working with, he will be missed. Our prayers are with his family at this sad time.
Craig McDonald, Frontier (Frontier Adjusters of Boston)
Great sadness comes with Bill’s passing and yet a great legacy lives through us all of whom he enhanced better lives. My sincere condolences to you and your families Granet, Jim and & Bill, Jr. Not a day passes without his positive and generous influence playing a part of my life. He was so gentle, intuitive, funny and fair. In the game of life, if there was a card which would summarize his qualities I would hold his as being by far the most valuable. You are a friend sorely missed. Thank you so much for shaking my hand.
Mike Sylvester, Frontier St. Paul, MN
My sympathies to the Rocke family. I have been with Frontier for several years now and have Bill to thank for it. I am greatful for having known such a good man. May he rest in peace.
Don Whedbee
It was with great sorrow we learned of the death of Bill Rocke.
He was a throwback to the “old days” when a man’s word was his way of life. In the latter part of 1976 I was considering a change. I had spent 15 years working for “the man” and had decided to start my own company. After a trip to Colorado where I visited two Frontier offices I decided to contact Bill and see what I could do to start my own business in Texas.
Less than 3 months later he called me, asked if I could meet at the airport in Houston during a layover in his schedule. I did, we talked, and after a handshake, I left with the promise of having my own adjusting business. We followed up with the needed paperwork and the rest is history.
Both he, and Jean continued with the “hands on” support needed for a “rookie” and the business flourished. Several years ago I opted out of the day to day operation of the business and turned it over to my son Justin. The continued support from frontier has been excellent and our group of offices has continued to grow.
Although 1976 was a long time ago, the way Bill Rocke operated the company was well received in the industry. It is a shame there are not more people like Bill.
Ed Ferrie
I can still recall meeting with Bill in Fort Lauderdale in 1985 to listen to him tell “the Frontier story”. I was sold from the start. He had faith in a 31 year old at that time with only 7 years in the business. Thank you Bill for taking that risk. Frontier has been my life ever since. He will be sorely missed, continually loved and always appreciated for the honest, fair-minded, funny guy that you could always count on. His word was his bond and his hand shake was an iron clad contract. Thank you.
Ronald M.Abraham
In 1982,we made a life-changing decision with a handshake with Bill that began the development of the Pacific Northwest Frontier Offices. The wonderful memories over the years are too many to list. However we will always cherish the many annual meetings ,the hugs, and the regular ,uplifting phone calls through the years,with the opening comment from him, “Did I wake you from your nap?”
Then there was the tour of his baseball collection,the exchange of baseball memorabilia and christmas cards.There were the lunches with him at his club in Phoenix during our home office visits. There was absolute confidence inspired between us as the franchise grew.
He was our best friend,,we will miss him.
Our sincere condolences to the family and heartfelt hugs to both Garnet and Jim.
Ron and Marcie Abraham
Philemon 4.
Terry Kolstad
Bill was a great man! The impact that he had on me was life changing. He had an uncanny gift in making a person “feel like he could change the world”. His personality and inspiration was amazing. What an honor and privilege to have known and worked with such a great man. I will miss him. Our prayers and thoughts are with Garnett and the family.
Terry & Peggy Kolstad
Ed Gronich
In 1990, I lost a successful business that I had built from the ground up to an unscrupulous partner that I had taken in to make my business grow. I was 49 and didn’t have a clue what I was going to do.
I had been an adjuster prior to going back to college and until I graduated from UCLA. But had gone many different directions up until the time I lost my business. By chance I was given the opportunity to go to work for Frontier Adjusters of Los Angeles and was there for three years. Bill heard that I was interested in owning my own Frontier office and through his efforts I ended up owning Frontier Adjusters of Salem, Oregon in 1994. Since, we expanded south to Eugene and north to Portland Oregon and to Vancouver Washington.
I got to know Bill and Garnet at many of the conferences. They immediately treated Lynda and me as friends and with warmth and affection and it was always that way whenever we saw each other. Frontier owners were not franchisees, they were friends.
Our heart goes out to Garnet as I know she is grieving the loss of her dearest friend and love of her life. But she will have the fantastic memories of her life with Bill and the legacy of his life well lived in which he was genuinely loved by all who knew him.
God has and will continue to bless Bill and Garnet. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
Ed and Lynda Gronich