Basil Andrew Roczicka was born August 14, 1980 in Bethel, Alaska. His parents, Gregory and Josephine Roczicka, raised him in Bethel, and taught him hunting, fishing and living the subsistence lifestyle of many Alaskans. Basil was an enrolled member of the Kwethluk Tribe and an Alaska Native.
In 1998 Basil joined the Marine Corps and rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2). During his service he deployed on the USS Tarawa for OIF1 in 2003, again to Fallujah, Iraq for OIF 2 in 2004, and again to Fallujah for OIF 3 in 2005. He also was deployed to Okinawa.
Basil was Ordinance Marine of the Year in 2005. He strove for excellence and took the time to teach the NCOs and Marines under his command. His goal was to assure, as best he could, that they got home safely from their deployments. Basil loved the Marine Corps and their camaraderie. He returned to civilian life in 2014.
Basil was a committed family man. On November 5, 2005 he married Sarah Butcher. Though sadly the marriage ended in divorce, they have two daughters, Isabelle born February 2, 2007 and Alexis born September 26, 2010. Basil‘s children were his greatest joy.
Basil and Bellanira married August 13, 2022 in St George, Utah. Their son, Gregory, whom Basil called the Man Cub was born November 12, 2018. Basil was, to the end, committed to his children and their mothers. He took his children to visit family both in Alaska and throughout the Lower 48, always providing encouragement and making memories.
Basil loved being outdoors, hiking, hunting, or fishing whenever possible, and often with family. Basil attentively reached out to extended family: calling and visiting them around the nation.
He never forgot his friends, always taking time to check in. He had a gift of making each person in his orbit feel unique and important, because they were.
In the fall of 2020, Basil entered college at the Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah. Almost two years into his program, doctors found terminal cancer. Basil was a warrior to the end, surviving much longer than expected, a testament to quiet suffering.
Basil is survived by wife Bellanira, daughters Isabelle and Alexis, son Gregory, former wife Sarah Roczicka, and his mother Josie Larson Roczicka. He is preceded in death by father Gregory, brother Norman Roczicka and beloved Grandmother Ellen Rose. He will be greatly missed by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and beloved friends. Basil’s Marine Corp brothers were as important as his family and he was energized by hearing from or seeing them. Semper Fi.
The family wishes to thank the numerous healthcare professionals who cared for him during this last year. A special thanks also for the tireless work many people did toward the end of his life to provide security to Bellanira and the children. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or the US Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment.
The funeral service was held at the Orthodox Christian Church in St. George, UT at 2654 Red Cliffs Drive on March 31st. The internment was held at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA on April 6th.
