Wendell Gene Roberts

Wendell Gene Roberts, age 78, died as the result of a workshop related accident near his home in Elizabeth, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 11, 2015 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, with Pastor Mike Nesbit officiating. A visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m., prior to the service, at the church. Burial will take place in Woodbine Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabeth. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Elizabeth Ambulance Association, the Elizabeth Fire Department or St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wendell's memory.
Wendell was born February 6, 1937 in Alden, Illinois, the son of Alvin and Alyce (Eichel) Roberts. He graduated from Elizabeth High School with the Class of 1955. After graduation, Wendell served his country in the United States Air Force for four years. On April 27, 1957, Wendell married Janet Knauer in Elizabeth.
After he was discharged, Wendell worked for A&B Steel in Elizabeth before working as a Welder and Set-up Man for John Deere for thirty years, retiring in 1995. While working for John Deere, Wendell also owned and operated Robert’s Repair Shop for the last fifty years. Wendell and his grandson, Andrew Nolan, have worked together at the repair shop for the last nineteen years. Wendell was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Elizabeth and served on the Church Board. In his spare time, Wendell enjoyed watching the birds and other critters that came to his feeders. He was also an avid reader, enjoying westerns and books about military history. He loved traveling over the years, visiting England and Hawaii among other places. Most of all, Wendell treasured his family and working in his shop creating custom wrought iron railings for area cemeteries, churches and residences. He especially enjoyed raising his great-grandson, Riley Hepperly.
Wendell will be dearly missed by his wife, Janet of Elizabeth; six children, Wendell “Gene” (Susan) Roberts, Jr. of Hanover, Illinois, Steven (Teresa) Roberts of Stockton, Illinois, Dennis (Sue) Roberts of Savanna, Thomas (DeRonda) Roberts of Tucson, Arizona, Sharon (Frank) Randall of Elizabeth, and Daniel (Julia) Roberts of McHenry, Illinois; seventeen grandchildren, Brianne (Jeff) Berning, Shannon Roberts, Kristin (Ryan) Raab, Steven Roberts, Joseph (Jamie) Roberts, Randi (Lindsay Murray) Roberts, Jessica (Jeremy) Boerner, Andrew Nolan, Alicia (Jordan) Ottman, Brad (Ali Witt) Nolan, Zachary Nolan, Kelsey and Bryce Randall, Eric (Kate) Roberts, Tyler (Samantha Grandon) Roberts, Aaron Roberts, Jordan (Justin Jackowiak) Roberts; twenty great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; several step-grandchildren; one brother, Dale Roberts; brothers-in-law, Dale Knauer, Robert Knauer, Paul (Ruth) Knauer, Lyle (Jenny) Knauer, James (Cheryl) Knauer; and sisters-in-law, Carole Busjahn, Betty Marcure, Judy (Don) Kaufman, Mary (Joe) Ambrosia and Kathy Knauer, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Wendell is preceded in death by both parents; one brother, Wayne Roberts; a nephew, Virgil Roberts; sisters-in-law, Jane Roberts and Penny Knauer; brothers-in-law, David Knauer, Tom Marcure and Louis Busjahn.