Melvin Duane Roberts, 10 Dec 1932 - 17 Jan 2022

ROBERTS, WADE, SCHMIDT, HANSEN, FARRINGTON, MACGREGOR, FERREIRA, MCKINNEY, WYCKOFF, HAAS, PULS, WALLACE, HERDLICKA, DOLL, JACKSON, MCNULTY, NEWTON, HOLSTON, BOWERS, SCHUMACHER

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/26/2022 at 15:03:28

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 service was 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 21st at St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Victor, with Pastor Stuart Rethwisch officiating. Organist was Marna Mohr. Vocalists were Lindsey Wyckoff, and Jack MacGregor accompanied by Connor MacGregor. Cross bearer was Will McKinney. Pallbearers were Charlie and Trace Roberts, Tyler and Travis Puls, Ian, Jack, Connor, and Brandon MacGregor, and Nathan Herdlicka. Honorary bearers were Chad Hansen, Boston Schumacher, Joe Icenbice, and Jake Good. Burial with military honors, performed by members of the Deep River American Legion, followed at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation was held from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and with the Roberts family present from 4:00 to 7:00p.m. Thursday, January 20th at the Smith Funeral Home in Victor.

Memorials may be designated to Lutheran Family Services and mailed in c/o Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112.

The funeral service was live-streamed on the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory Facebook page beginning 15 minutes prior to service time.

Melvin was born on December 10, 1932, on a farm southeast of Parnell, to 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 was united in marriage to Merleta (Schmidt), at St. John's Lutheran Church; a union of 68 years! 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 at 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 3 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.

Melvin is survived by 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. Also 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; and 21 great-grandchildren, William and Gabriel McKinney, Jadelyn Roberts, Desirae, Tillie, Emmarie and Lyndee Roberts, Thatcher and Marina Wyckoff, Sarah McNulty, Kaitlyn Hansen, Brianna Newton, Cody and Chasen Holston, Walter Puls, Owen Puls, Ezra and Dylan Herdlicka, Jayden Doll, Johnathan and Matthew Jackson, and one on the way. Melvin is also survived by 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.

Published in The Hometown Current on January 26, 2022.