Virginia E. Roberts

Virginia E. Roberts, took the loving hand of Jesus and went Home to Heaven for Christmas after a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma cancer on December 24, 2014 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. She was a strong fighter until the very end. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 28, 2014, at St. James Lutheran Church, 1148 4th Street S.E., with Pastor Jeni Bohls officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Saturday, December 27, 2014, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Inurnment will take place in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa, 232 2nd Street Southeast, Mason City, IA 50401. Virginia was born February 14, 1940, in Mason City, the daughter of Mack and Irene (Paulus) Whited. She was baptized at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mason City, IA and confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton, IA. The family moved out West to Hood River, OR and Tacoma, WA several times before coming back to Grafton and Mason City, IA. While out West they lived through the Depression years, always making an adventure out of their travels and enjoying the simple pleasures in life...fishing poles and a picnic lunch. During her sophomore year at Grafton High School she was a member of the girls basketball State Consolation Runners-Up team in 1956. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1958. She was united in marriage to her first husband Robert Cooper in June of 1958. To this union two daughters were born - Lisa Diane and Rene Lea. On November 22, 1972 Virginia was united in marriage to Donald Roberts at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Mason City, IA. Don was the love of her life and soulmate for 47 years. When Don and Virginia were first married they bought a travel trailer and took the girls camping every weekend. Eventually, they purchased a mobile home and placed it over on the Mississippi River at Prairie Du Chien, WI. She loved tooling along the river in their boat and enjoying life. In 1989 they moved to Clear Lake and Don built her a dream house on the lake. It was there that she loved to entertain and decorate for all the holidays - especially Christmas. Her grandchildren spent many weekends there being spoiled by her wonderful cooking. They loved to wake up to her pancakes. Another favorite was her macaroni and cheese. The lake house was also a favorite at the 4th of July where there was boating, fishing, swimming, good food, family, campfires and of course a beautiful view of the fireworks. Virginia continued her parent’s family tradition of taking her children and grandchildren to Gays Mills, WI every fall for Apple Fest. She loved getting Cortland apples and baking her famous apple pie. A special stop was at Pike's Peak in McGregor, IA. Her family plans to continue this tradition in loving memory of her. She loved to cook and bake always treating her family to wonderful meals and desserts. She was an accomplished seamstress who could make anything even without a pattern. She earned Best of Show and many blue ribbons with her artistic talents on her ceramic and porcelain pieces. The pieces she made for her children and grandchildren will always be treasured. Virginia worked for AMPI for 31 years. She retired in 2002. Following retirement she and Don became snow birds and wintered in South Padre, TX. Virginia will be greatly missed and always adored by her husband, Donald, her daughters: Lisa Lawson (Curt), Rene Keiser (Dave), and grandchildren: Travis Paine and fiancée Alex Tyer, Kirby Keiser and Courtney Keiser. Her dear cousins: Barbie, Nancy and Susan, Richard, Ronnie and Fred. Her sister-in-law: Marilyn Jurgena (Larry). Brothers-in-law: Marvin Roberts (Carolyn), Steve Roberts (Jana); and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her first husband; parents: Mack and Irene Whited; and her best friend of 50 years: Marlene Hargis.

Cemetery:
Inurnment will take place in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa, 232 2nd Street Southeast, Mason City, IA 50401.