Real-life heroes do exist and are not just confined to movies or comics; these people do extraordinary things, which can often be at the cost of great sacrifice.

In Kansas City, last Tuesday, a crossing guard sacrificed his life to save children who could have lost theirs.

Eighty-eight years old, Bob Nill had worked as a crossing guard at Christ the King Parish School for five years, and the students held him in high regard; many of them called him “Mr. Bob.”.

According to reports, a black sedan sped through Nill’s crosswalk at around 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Nill put himself in harm’s way to save two children.

“He stopped [two kids], and they listened, thank God, but then he, of course, was the victim,” school principal Cathy Fithian told KMBC 9.

Witnesses say Nill pushed the children out of the way as the car sped past. Unfortunately, he was struck. His nephew, Randy, said the courageous act wasn’t out of character.

He explained: “What my Uncle Bob did for just getting little kids across the street seemed probably trivial to some people, but for him, it was a really important job, and now, we really know how important it was. He maybe saved some lives.”

Nill previously worked in banking and served in the Coast Guard prior to his retirement. When he stepped back from full-time work, he worked as a crossing guard to continue giving back to his community.

“This was something; I think he felt like he could help children and help himself feel good about what he was doing,” Randy said.

Christ the King Parish School released a statement on their Facebook page on Tuesday.

“We would like to give you an update on our crossing guard, Mr. Nill. Our hearts are heavy as we inform you of his passing. Please continue to keep Mr. Nill and his family in your prayers, as well as the students, parents, and teachers who witnessed today’s accident.

“Also know that Mr. Nill is a hero. He stopped two of our students from crossing the road as the car approached.”

Rest in peace, Bob Nill. Your actions saved lives, and for that, you will always be remembered as a hero.

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