Floyd Edward Roberts, age 79, of Friendship died Friday, October 20, 2017 of natural causes at his home in Friendship, Wisconsin.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 26, 2017, at Roseberry’s Funeral Home in Friendship. Chaplain John VandenHeuvel will officiate. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service on Thursday at Roseberry’s Funeral Home. Interment will be in Mount Repose Cemetery, Friendship, Wisconsin.
Floyd was born March 4, 1938 in Monroe Center, Wisconsin, the son of Otto Edward and Martha Jane (Strong) Roberts. Floyd attended Friendship Grade School and graduated from Adams-Friendship High School Class of 1956 (as Valedictorian). He attended Manatee County High School in Bradenton, Florida nearly half the time during his first three years of high school. While in high school, he played saxophone in the band, marched in many parades in Florida, was in an all-school play at A-F, served in various student offices, and threw the discus in a conference track meet. After getting his wrist broken during his first day of football practice in 1952, he never played football again. Floyd attended one year as an honor student at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and then enlisted in the US Army Security Agency. He graduated first in his class from the USASA Training Center and School in Fort Devens, Massachusetts in 1958.
Floyd served in the Army in Sinop, Turkey and along the eastern border of West Germany as a Morse Code Intercept Operator who intercepted Russian military radio transmissions for one and half years. Upon reassignment back to the States in 1960, he served in the Battalion Headquarters of a Strategic Army Command (STRAC) unit at Camp Wolters, Texas until his separation in September. Floyd resumed his college studies at Wisconsin State College (now called the UW-Stevens Point) and graduated in 1964 with a major in mathematics and a minor in physics. As his first job outside the family-owned businesses, Floyd took a job in Milwaukee as an Inventory Analyst for American Motors. Following that, he worked as a bank examiner for the State of Wisconsin, a loan officer for M&I Bank in Adams, a self-employed insurance and real estate agent, a Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Housing Loan Analyst, a US Postal employee, and a mathematics instructor.
On July 1, 1967, Floyd married Marilyn Marie Kirchner of Adams. She was the daughter of Otto and Mayme (Quinnell) Kirchner. Floyd and Marilyn had three children: William Randolph Roberts, born 1969, Rhonda Rhea Roberts, born 1973, and a stillborn infant son 1976. Although both Floyd and Marilyn were born and raised in Adams County, they spent twenty-two years living and working in Madison.
Floyd liked trees and liked to work in the yard and in the garden. He liked to work creatively on his computers, sometimes building web sites and he also compiled a massive database of his extended family tree. He liked nearly all academics as well as art, technology, guns, hunting and other outdoor sports, studying Biblical prophecy, and his family and friends. After his retirement from the US Postal Service, he tutored high school and college students in algebra and, as an adjunct instructor, he also taught mathematics at Mid-State Technical College in Adams.
Preceding him in death were: his father (2001) and mother (2013); sister, Lucille Joyce (Leonard) Engnath (accident, 1995) and her husband (1979); nephew, Daniel Carl Engnath (1977); father-in-law, Otto John Kirchner (2000); mother-in-law, Mayme Kirchner (1995); former brother-in-law, Andrew Ritchie.
Survivors are his wife of 50 years, Marilyn; their son and daughter-in-law, William Randolph and Ivy (Johnson) Roberts of Madison and their daughter, Rachael Gillian Roberts; their daughter and son-in-law, Rhonda Rhea and Wil-Michael Richlen of Ashwaubenon and their children, Connor Erwin, Braedon John, and Emma Mayme Richlen of Ashwaubenon, Alyssa (John) VandenHeuvel of Bristol; nephew, Mark Edward Engnath of Madison; niece, Yvette Jane (Kurtis) McGregor and their children, Mitchell, Drew, and Sanja of Pevely, Missouri; sister-in-law, Linda (Dennis) Renner, Friendship and her daughter, Trisha Ritchie Benbo of Omro; and other relatives and friends.
The family of Floyd E. Roberts would like to express special appreciation to: the Heartland Hospice Care Team, the William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital in Madison and the Tomah VA Medical Center for their medical and caring service.
Marilyn. I am so sorry. I have fond memories of Floyd through years of friendship with Lucille and also when we both worked at the bank. I appreciated his family research too as some of genealogy interspersed. Sharlene wrote me the news and I just learned of it today by mail. I have always had such respect for Floyd’s intelligence and the way he adored you.
Marilyn and Family,
Our heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family. Floyd’s kindness and generosity to our organization and the people who we have served over the years will always be remembered. Please know that you remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Just a great Person & Classmate!
So sorry to hear of Floyd’s death.
Although I have not seen Floyd in 50+ years, we (my sister, Joanne Wagenaar (nee Novak)) always appreciated it when he kept us in touch with the latest news of our A-F classmates, 1956-1958. He provided a great service to us all, and he will be missed! He was a kind man
We are saddened to learn of the passing of classmate, Floyd. Our prayers go out to Marilyn and family. Floyd and I had so many good times in high school whether it was academic classes, school plays, or music. I will miss those good times and the memories we shared at class reunions.
Our deepest sympathy to Marilyn and family. Our thoughts & prayers are with you. I remember Floyd as a bank examiner when I (Fran) worked at the M & I in Adams. And Floyd & I (Bill) went to High School together. Keep all your memories close to your heart. A wonderful tribute to Floyd.
Very sorry to hear of your loss and my prayers for the entire Roberts family.
My condolences to the family. Floyd was always in my mind when I thought of A-F and hometown no matter from how far away. He was the brightest in our class of 1956. His good friendship will be missed.
Wonderfully written tribute. Condolences to the family.
Our hearts are saddened by Floyd’s passing. He was very important in getting our reunions together, and he will be missed. To his family we extend our deepest sympathy. Keep his memories close to your heart.
Our deepest condolences to your family, Marilyn. I am so happy to get to know Floyd and enjoyed visiting with him at family reunions. Our prayers and thought are with you.
My sincere sympathy Marilyn and to your family. Floyd’s mother and my Grandma Alta Strong were sister’s. I really appreciated meeting both of you albeit late in life.
Harold recalls that he and Gordon Paulson talked Floyd into going out for football and he broke his wrist when he was holding the tackling dummy. That took care of Floyd’s football career. Floyd was a wonderful classmate who helped organize our reunions and relayed information to all of us about fellow Green Devils. He was a true friend and we will miss him. Sending our sincere sympathy to Marilyn and family.
I’m Jim Miller of the Lubeck Association, I will let the guys know of Floyd’s passing. My condolences too all.
We are very sorry to hear that Floyd passed away. We extend our sympathy to Marilyn & family.
Marilyn and family you have our deepest sympathy, may God be with you all.
Sending condolences to Marilyn and family. We will surely miss him. He was a great friend.
Marilyn and family, so sorry to hear of Floyd’s passing. Always enjoyed our visits with him, he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with you, Randy and Nona Johnson
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your family during this time.
A wonderful man, our thoughts & prayers are with your family during this difficult time.
My sincere condolences to you Marilyn and to your family you are in my prayers, Floyd was such a good friend of my husband Gordon & I, so sad to hear of his passing.
Marilyn and family So sorry to hear of Floyd’s passing. My thought’s and prayers are with you.
Very sorry on your loss. May God family and friends comfort you during this different time
Sorry for your family loss…prayers
We are sorry to hear of Floyd’s passing you have our sincere condolences. Floyd was my second cousin his Grandfather William Roberts and my Grandfather Jesse Roberts were brothers.
Our sincere condolences to Marilyn and all the family. Floyd will surely be missed as well by friends/classmates. May God hold you in the palm of his hand as you cherish all the memories.
A true leader
We are very very sorry to hear of the passing of Floyd Roberts, he was such a great guy, good friend, he will be missed. He took the time to tutor my daughter in math, he did a great job with that,was a great influence, we all appreciated his time & effort. He sure was a good man. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife & family.