Robert Louis Goncalves

Robert Louis Goncalves, 40, of Worland, Wyoming, passed away May 3, 2017 in Billings, Montana.

Robert was born January 17, 1977 to Michael and Deborah (Dixon) Goncalves in Merced, California, the second of three boys. As a boy he played baseball and soccer and participated in 4-H FFA and Cub Scouts. He won a spelling bee in 5th Grade. His family moved to a ranch on the Gooseberry Creek in Wyoming in 1990 where his lifelong love affair with horses began. As a boy he rode horses all summer long, he enjoyed the ranch life and the Gooseberry. He graduated from Worland High School in 1995. He worked various jobs throughout his life to support his family including the livestock auction, the bentonite plant and currently he was employed by Devon Energy.

He married JaNeen Gotfredson in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on July 16, 1997. To this union his four best friends were born, Wade, Isaac, Luke and Ross Goncalves. Robert enjoyed hunting and packing and especially loved the mountains and nature. He loved his horses and dogs. He was patriotic and loved his country and admired the men and women who served our country. Robert also enjoyed sports – UFC, football, rodeo and wrestling. He wasn't a wrestler, but his boys loved it, so he would spend hours and hours reading about and learning the sport. He watched hours of film so he could help the boys be better. He coached USA wrestling and loved working with the kids. He was a person that was happy to be in the background, with little or no attention on him. When he spoke, you knew it meant something. He was dependable, one of his finest attributes was that he was a good dad. His boys adore him.

He is preceded in death by grandparents, Marge and Louis Goncalves, J.D. Dixon, Uncle, David Dixon.

Survivors include his wife, JaNeen, sons: Wade, who is currently serving an LDS mission in the Oregon, Portland Mission, Isaac, Luke and Ross of the family home; his parents, Mike and Deb Goncalves; brothers, Matt (Dani) of Worland and John of Basin, His grandmother, Geri Dixon, Father and mother-in-law, Bill and Ellen Gotfredson, brothers-in-law, Garry (Nicole) and Allen Gotfredson, sister-in-law, LaDonna (Pete) Miller; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Robert always said that when you got in a tight spot to look behind you and see who is right there and that's how you would know who your friends are, it would be the people who would be willing to go through something tough with you. We are seeing an army of friends standing behind us and appreciate the love and support we feel.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 8, 2017 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with Bishop Jerry Kienlen officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Donations may be for an education fund being set up for the children. Please make checks payable to JaNeen Goncalves. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.