Lois E. Roberts, 76, of Decorah, passed away Thursday morning, June 13, 2019, following a courageous nine-year battle with ovarian cancer, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.
Celebration of Life Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with Rev. Hyeunmee Kang officiating. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, one hour before services, at First United Methodist Church.
Lois Ellen (Tunnell) Roberts was born Oct. 14, 1942, in New Hampton, the daughter of Mabel (Hartson) Tunnell and Winfred Eugene “Doc” Tunnell. Lois attended K-12 at New Hampton Community Schools. She developed her life-long interest in bird watching while doing a school project in fifth grade.
She graduated from Cornell College in 1965 with a B.A. in elementary education and psychology.
She met her husband, Gary Dean Roberts of Greenfield, while at Cornell. They were married at the United Methodist Church of New Hampton Dec. 19, 1965. Gary and Lois have lived in the same home on Mound Street in Decorah for 51 years.
She began her teaching career in 1965 as a fourth-grade teacher at East Side Elementary in the Decorah School District. She taught there until 1968 when their first child, Michael Eugene Roberts was born. She substitute taught while raising children. Daughter Karen Ellen (Roberts) Roth was born in 1971. Lois returned to teaching as a Title One teacher in reading and math in 1977. She worked at John Cline Elementary until her retirement in 2004.
She enjoyed family, friends, gardening, traveling and bird watching. Summers were often spent at Lake Kabetogama in Minnesota at the family cabin.
After retirement, Lois and Gary spent winter months at St. George Island, Fla. and Green Valley, Ariz. Lois has always loved dogs and was thrilled to have their beloved pet Ricky, a Brittany Spaniel, travel with them on their various trips. Gary and Lois enjoyed many travels with family and friends visiting Panama City, Florida, Orange Beach, Alabama, southern Texas, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and Holland. Family was always a priority, and Lois made numerous trips to visit grandchildren in Iowa and Missouri, nephews in Colorado and other relatives in southern Iowa.
She was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Decorah where she was active in circle and taught Sunday school. She was a Master Gardener and a member of PEO.
Lois is survived by her husband, Gary; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Lisa Roberts of Pleasant Hill, Mo.; daughter and son-in-law Karen and John Roth of Cedar Falls; grandchildren: Kaitlin and Brayden Roberts, Carter and Cory Roth; as well as many much-loved nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Doc and Mabel Tunnell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309 or The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 930, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family.
Celebration of Life Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with Rev. Hyeunmee Kang officiating. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, one hour before services, at First United Methodist Church.
Lois Ellen (Tunnell) Roberts was born Oct. 14, 1942, in New Hampton, the daughter of Mabel (Hartson) Tunnell and Winfred Eugene “Doc” Tunnell. Lois attended K-12 at New Hampton Community Schools. She developed her life-long interest in bird watching while doing a school project in fifth grade.
She graduated from Cornell College in 1965 with a B.A. in elementary education and psychology.
She met her husband, Gary Dean Roberts of Greenfield, while at Cornell. They were married at the United Methodist Church of New Hampton Dec. 19, 1965. Gary and Lois have lived in the same home on Mound Street in Decorah for 51 years.
She began her teaching career in 1965 as a fourth-grade teacher at East Side Elementary in the Decorah School District. She taught there until 1968 when their first child, Michael Eugene Roberts was born. She substitute taught while raising children. Daughter Karen Ellen (Roberts) Roth was born in 1971. Lois returned to teaching as a Title One teacher in reading and math in 1977. She worked at John Cline Elementary until her retirement in 2004.
She enjoyed family, friends, gardening, traveling and bird watching. Summers were often spent at Lake Kabetogama in Minnesota at the family cabin.
After retirement, Lois and Gary spent winter months at St. George Island, Fla. and Green Valley, Ariz. Lois has always loved dogs and was thrilled to have their beloved pet Ricky, a Brittany Spaniel, travel with them on their various trips. Gary and Lois enjoyed many travels with family and friends visiting Panama City, Florida, Orange Beach, Alabama, southern Texas, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and Holland. Family was always a priority, and Lois made numerous trips to visit grandchildren in Iowa and Missouri, nephews in Colorado and other relatives in southern Iowa.
She was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Decorah where she was active in circle and taught Sunday school. She was a Master Gardener and a member of PEO.
Lois is survived by her husband, Gary; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Lisa Roberts of Pleasant Hill, Mo.; daughter and son-in-law Karen and John Roth of Cedar Falls; grandchildren: Kaitlin and Brayden Roberts, Carter and Cory Roth; as well as many much-loved nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Doc and Mabel Tunnell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309 or The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 930, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family.
Lois E. Roberts, 76, of Decorah, passed away Thursday morning, June 13, 2019, following a courageous nine-year battle with ovarian cancer, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.
Celebration of Life Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with Rev. Hyeunmee Kang officiating. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, one hour before services, at First United Methodist Church.
Lois Ellen (Tunnell) Roberts was born Oct. 14, 1942, in New Hampton, the daughter of Mabel (Hartson) Tunnell and Winfred Eugene “Doc” Tunnell. Lois attended K-12 at New Hampton Community Schools. She developed her life-long interest in bird watching while doing a school project in fifth grade.
She graduated from Cornell College in 1965 with a B.A. in elementary education and psychology.
She met her husband, Gary Dean Roberts of Greenfield, while at Cornell. They were married at the United Methodist Church of New Hampton Dec. 19, 1965. Gary and Lois have lived in the same home on Mound Street in Decorah for 51 years.
She began her teaching career in 1965 as a fourth-grade teacher at East Side Elementary in the Decorah School District. She taught there until 1968 when their first child, Michael Eugene Roberts was born. She substitute taught while raising children. Daughter Karen Ellen (Roberts) Roth was born in 1971. Lois returned to teaching as a Title One teacher in reading and math in 1977. She worked at John Cline Elementary until her retirement in 2004.
She enjoyed family, friends, gardening, traveling and bird watching. Summers were often spent at Lake Kabetogama in Minnesota at the family cabin.
After retirement, Lois and Gary spent winter months at St. George Island, Fla. and Green Valley, Ariz. Lois has always loved dogs and was thrilled to have their beloved pet Ricky, a Brittany Spaniel, travel with them on their various trips. Gary and Lois enjoyed many travels with family and friends visiting Panama City, Florida, Orange Beach, Alabama, southern Texas, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and Holland. Family was always a priority, and Lois made numerous trips to visit grandchildren in Iowa and Missouri, nephews in Colorado and other relatives in southern Iowa.
She was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Decorah where she was active in circle and taught Sunday school. She was a Master Gardener and a member of PEO.
Lois is survived by her husband, Gary; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Lisa Roberts of Pleasant Hill, Mo.; daughter and son-in-law Karen and John Roth of Cedar Falls; grandchildren: Kaitlin and Brayden Roberts, Carter and Cory Roth; as well as many much-loved nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Doc and Mabel Tunnell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309 or The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 930, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family.
Celebration of Life Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with Rev. Hyeunmee Kang officiating. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, one hour before services, at First United Methodist Church.
Lois Ellen (Tunnell) Roberts was born Oct. 14, 1942, in New Hampton, the daughter of Mabel (Hartson) Tunnell and Winfred Eugene “Doc” Tunnell. Lois attended K-12 at New Hampton Community Schools. She developed her life-long interest in bird watching while doing a school project in fifth grade.
She graduated from Cornell College in 1965 with a B.A. in elementary education and psychology.
She met her husband, Gary Dean Roberts of Greenfield, while at Cornell. They were married at the United Methodist Church of New Hampton Dec. 19, 1965. Gary and Lois have lived in the same home on Mound Street in Decorah for 51 years.
She began her teaching career in 1965 as a fourth-grade teacher at East Side Elementary in the Decorah School District. She taught there until 1968 when their first child, Michael Eugene Roberts was born. She substitute taught while raising children. Daughter Karen Ellen (Roberts) Roth was born in 1971. Lois returned to teaching as a Title One teacher in reading and math in 1977. She worked at John Cline Elementary until her retirement in 2004.
She enjoyed family, friends, gardening, traveling and bird watching. Summers were often spent at Lake Kabetogama in Minnesota at the family cabin.
After retirement, Lois and Gary spent winter months at St. George Island, Fla. and Green Valley, Ariz. Lois has always loved dogs and was thrilled to have their beloved pet Ricky, a Brittany Spaniel, travel with them on their various trips. Gary and Lois enjoyed many travels with family and friends visiting Panama City, Florida, Orange Beach, Alabama, southern Texas, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany and Holland. Family was always a priority, and Lois made numerous trips to visit grandchildren in Iowa and Missouri, nephews in Colorado and other relatives in southern Iowa.
She was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Decorah where she was active in circle and taught Sunday school. She was a Master Gardener and a member of PEO.
Lois is survived by her husband, Gary; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Lisa Roberts of Pleasant Hill, Mo.; daughter and son-in-law Karen and John Roth of Cedar Falls; grandchildren: Kaitlin and Brayden Roberts, Carter and Cory Roth; as well as many much-loved nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Doc and Mabel Tunnell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309 or The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 930, Des Moines, IA 50309.
Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family.
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