Melvin Duane Roberts, 89, of Deep River, died on January 17, 2022, at UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Medical Center with his wife and family by his side. Funeral services at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Victor, Pastor Stuart Rethwisch officiating, with pallbearers Charlie and Trace Roberts, Tyler and Travis Puls, Ian, Jack, Connor, and Brandon MacGregor, and Nathan Herdlicka, and honorary bearers Chad Hansen, Boston Schumacher, Joe Icenbice, and Jake Good. Burial with military honors, performed by members of the Deep River American Legion, at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be designated to Lutheran Family Services.
Melvin was born on December 10, 1932, on a farm southeast of Parnell, the son of Elvin and Mary (Wade) Roberts. He attended a country school near Wellman and later attended Keota High School. After his education, he worked and also joined the Iowa National Guard in 1949 and was discharged in 1956.
On June 21, 1953, he married Merleta (Schmidt), at St. John's Lutheran Church. The couple lived in Cedar Rapids and Conroy prior to moving to their farm and current home near Deep River in 1956. Mel farmed until 1984. While farming and after, he was employed at several places including Victor Manufacturing, Hansen Construction, and the Tanger Outlet Mall. He also drove a truck for Westerkamp and Folkman trucking firms. He knew the value of hard work.
Mel enjoyed deer hunting with his buddies, fishing, and caring for his farm pets and loved his outside cats. He enjoyed telling stories about people and past experiences, enjoyed his grandkids and then later the hugs and smiles and lap time with the great-grand kids. Melvin and Merleta gardened together, and he enjoyed mowing his three acre yard. He and Merleta loved to travel, and their adventures took to them to both the east and west coasts of the United States, including Alaska, and to several countries in Europe. For several summers they enjoyed hosting students from France and Spain.
Surviving are his wife, Merleta of Deep River; five children, Michael (Elizabeth) Roberts of Deep River, Diana (Dick) Hansen of Victor, Julie Roberts of Grinnell, Kristy Farrington of Woodland Park, Colorado, and Rhonda MacGregor of Denison; a dear friend of Melvin and Merleta, Patty Ferreira; 17 grandchildren, Selina (Chris) McKinney, Charlie Roberts, Trace (Cassie) Roberts, Lindsey (Joe) Wyckoff, Sherry Hass, Erica Hansen, Tyler Puls, Travis Puls, Nicole (Nick) Wallace, Nathan (VaLeene) Herdlicka, Erienne (Dustin) Doll, Chelsea Roberts (Dustin Jackson), and Ian, Jack, Connor, and Brandon MacGregor; 21 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Margaret Bowers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elvin and Mary Roberts; his brother Carl Roberts; his son, Brian Roberts; three grandchildren, Chad Hansen, Boston Schumacher, and Alexis Schumacher; and a son-in-law, Kenn MacGregor.
Source: Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, Iowa
Melvin was born on December 10, 1932, on a farm southeast of Parnell, the son of Elvin and Mary (Wade) Roberts. He attended a country school near Wellman and later attended Keota High School. After his education, he worked and also joined the Iowa National Guard in 1949 and was discharged in 1956.
On June 21, 1953, he married Merleta (Schmidt), at St. John's Lutheran Church. The couple lived in Cedar Rapids and Conroy prior to moving to their farm and current home near Deep River in 1956. Mel farmed until 1984. While farming and after, he was employed at several places including Victor Manufacturing, Hansen Construction, and the Tanger Outlet Mall. He also drove a truck for Westerkamp and Folkman trucking firms. He knew the value of hard work.
Mel enjoyed deer hunting with his buddies, fishing, and caring for his farm pets and loved his outside cats. He enjoyed telling stories about people and past experiences, enjoyed his grandkids and then later the hugs and smiles and lap time with the great-grand kids. Melvin and Merleta gardened together, and he enjoyed mowing his three acre yard. He and Merleta loved to travel, and their adventures took to them to both the east and west coasts of the United States, including Alaska, and to several countries in Europe. For several summers they enjoyed hosting students from France and Spain.
Surviving are his wife, Merleta of Deep River; five children, Michael (Elizabeth) Roberts of Deep River, Diana (Dick) Hansen of Victor, Julie Roberts of Grinnell, Kristy Farrington of Woodland Park, Colorado, and Rhonda MacGregor of Denison; a dear friend of Melvin and Merleta, Patty Ferreira; 17 grandchildren, Selina (Chris) McKinney, Charlie Roberts, Trace (Cassie) Roberts, Lindsey (Joe) Wyckoff, Sherry Hass, Erica Hansen, Tyler Puls, Travis Puls, Nicole (Nick) Wallace, Nathan (VaLeene) Herdlicka, Erienne (Dustin) Doll, Chelsea Roberts (Dustin Jackson), and Ian, Jack, Connor, and Brandon MacGregor; 21 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Margaret Bowers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elvin and Mary Roberts; his brother Carl Roberts; his son, Brian Roberts; three grandchildren, Chad Hansen, Boston Schumacher, and Alexis Schumacher; and a son-in-law, Kenn MacGregor.
Source: Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, Iowa
Melvin Duane Roberts, 89, of Deep River, died on January 17, 2022, at UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Medical Center with his wife and family by his side. Funeral services at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Victor, Pastor Stuart Rethwisch officiating, with pallbearers Charlie and Trace Roberts, Tyler and Travis Puls, Ian, Jack, Connor, and Brandon MacGregor, and Nathan Herdlicka, and honorary bearers Chad Hansen, Boston Schumacher, Joe Icenbice, and Jake Good. Burial with military honors, performed by members of the Deep River American Legion, at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery. Memorials may be designated to Lutheran Family Services.
Melvin was born on December 10, 1932, on a farm southeast of Parnell, the son of Elvin and Mary (Wade) Roberts. He attended a country school near Wellman and later attended Keota High School. After his education, he worked and also joined the Iowa National Guard in 1949 and was discharged in 1956.
On June 21, 1953, he married Merleta (Schmidt), at St. John's Lutheran Church. The couple lived in Cedar Rapids and Conroy prior to moving to their farm and current home near Deep River in 1956. Mel farmed until 1984. While farming and after, he was employed at several places including Victor Manufacturing, Hansen Construction, and the Tanger Outlet Mall. He also drove a truck for Westerkamp and Folkman trucking firms. He knew the value of hard work.
Mel enjoyed deer hunting with his buddies, fishing, and caring for his farm pets and loved his outside cats. He enjoyed telling stories about people and past experiences, enjoyed his grandkids and then later the hugs and smiles and lap time with the great-grand kids. Melvin and Merleta gardened together, and he enjoyed mowing his three acre yard. He and Merleta loved to travel, and their adventures took to them to both the east and west coasts of the United States, including Alaska, and to several countries in Europe. For several summers they enjoyed hosting students from France and Spain.
Surviving are his wife, Merleta of Deep River; five children, Michael (Elizabeth) Roberts of Deep River, Diana (Dick) Hansen of Victor, Julie Roberts of Grinnell, Kristy Farrington of Woodland Park, Colorado, and Rhonda MacGregor of Denison; a dear friend of Melvin and Merleta, Patty Ferreira; 17 grandchildren, Selina (Chris) McKinney, Charlie Roberts, Trace (Cassie) Roberts, Lindsey (Joe) Wyckoff, Sherry Hass, Erica Hansen, Tyler Puls, Travis Puls, Nicole (Nick) Wallace, Nathan (VaLeene) Herdlicka, Erienne (Dustin) Doll, Chelsea Roberts (Dustin Jackson), and Ian, Jack, Connor, and Brandon MacGregor; 21 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Margaret Bowers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elvin and Mary Roberts; his brother Carl Roberts; his son, Brian Roberts; three grandchildren, Chad Hansen, Boston Schumacher, and Alexis Schumacher; and a son-in-law, Kenn MacGregor.
Source: Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, Iowa
Melvin was born on December 10, 1932, on a farm southeast of Parnell, the son of Elvin and Mary (Wade) Roberts. He attended a country school near Wellman and later attended Keota High School. After his education, he worked and also joined the Iowa National Guard in 1949 and was discharged in 1956.
On June 21, 1953, he married Merleta (Schmidt), at St. John's Lutheran Church. The couple lived in Cedar Rapids and Conroy prior to moving to their farm and current home near Deep River in 1956. Mel farmed until 1984. While farming and after, he was employed at several places including Victor Manufacturing, Hansen Construction, and the Tanger Outlet Mall. He also drove a truck for Westerkamp and Folkman trucking firms. He knew the value of hard work.
Mel enjoyed deer hunting with his buddies, fishing, and caring for his farm pets and loved his outside cats. He enjoyed telling stories about people and past experiences, enjoyed his grandkids and then later the hugs and smiles and lap time with the great-grand kids. Melvin and Merleta gardened together, and he enjoyed mowing his three acre yard. He and Merleta loved to travel, and their adventures took to them to both the east and west coasts of the United States, including Alaska, and to several countries in Europe. For several summers they enjoyed hosting students from France and Spain.
Surviving are his wife, Merleta of Deep River; five children, Michael (Elizabeth) Roberts of Deep River, Diana (Dick) Hansen of Victor, Julie Roberts of Grinnell, Kristy Farrington of Woodland Park, Colorado, and Rhonda MacGregor of Denison; a dear friend of Melvin and Merleta, Patty Ferreira; 17 grandchildren, Selina (Chris) McKinney, Charlie Roberts, Trace (Cassie) Roberts, Lindsey (Joe) Wyckoff, Sherry Hass, Erica Hansen, Tyler Puls, Travis Puls, Nicole (Nick) Wallace, Nathan (VaLeene) Herdlicka, Erienne (Dustin) Doll, Chelsea Roberts (Dustin Jackson), and Ian, Jack, Connor, and Brandon MacGregor; 21 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Margaret Bowers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elvin and Mary Roberts; his brother Carl Roberts; his son, Brian Roberts; three grandchildren, Chad Hansen, Boston Schumacher, and Alexis Schumacher; and a son-in-law, Kenn MacGregor.
Source: Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell, Iowa
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