Lois Roberts

Lois E. Roberts, age 76, of Decorah, IA, passed away Thursday morning, June 13, 2019 following a courageous 9 year battle with ovarian cancer at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.         Celebration of Life Services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at First United Methodist Church in Decorah with Rev. Hyeunmee Kang officiating.    Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM Tuesday, one hour before services, at First United Methodist Church.  Lois Ellen (Tunnell) Roberts was born on October 14, 1942 in New Hampton, Iowa, the daughter of Mabel (Hartson) Tunnell and Winfred Eugene “Doc” Tunnell.  Lois attended K-12 at New Hampton Community Schools.  She developed her life-long interest in bird watching while doing a school project in 5th grade.  She graduated from Cornell College in 1965 with a B.A. in Elementary Education and Psychology.  She met her husband, Gary Dean Roberts of Greenfield, Iowa, while at Cornell.  They were married at the United Methodist Church of New Hampton, Iowa on December 19, 1965.  Gary and Lois have lived in the same home on Mound Street in Decorah for 51 years.  She began her teaching career in 1965 as a fourth grade teacher at East Side Elementary in the Decorah School District.  She taught there until 1968 when their first child, Michael Eugene Roberts was born.  She substitute taught while raising children.  Daughter Karen Ellen (Roberts) Roth was born in 1971.  Lois returned to teaching as a Title One teacher in Reading and Math in 1977.  She worked at John Cline Elementary until her retirement in 2004. She enjoyed family, friends, gardening, traveling, and bird watching.  Summers were often spent at Lake Kabetogama in Minnesota at the family cabin.  After retirement, Lois and Gary spent winter months at St. George Island, Florida, and Green Valley, Arizona.  Lois has always loved dogs and was thrilled to have their beloved pet Ricky, a Brittany Spaniel, travel with them on their various trips.  Gary and Lois enjoyed many travels with family and friends visiting Panama City, Florida, Orange Beach, Alabama, southern Texas, Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, and Holland.  Family was always a priority, and Lois made numerous trips to visit grandchildren in Iowa and Missouri, nephews in Colorado, and other relatives in southern Iowa. She was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Decorah where she was active in circle and taught Sunday school. She was a Master Gardener and a member of PEO. She was preceded in death by her parents, Doc and Mabel Tunnell. Lois is survived by her husband, Gary; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Lisa Roberts of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; daughter and son-in-law Karen and John Roth of Cedar Falls, Iowa, grandchildren Kaitlin and Brayden Roberts, Carter and Cory Roth; as well as many much-loved nephews and cousins.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309 or The Nature Conservancy in Iowa, 505 5th Avenue, Suite 930, Des Moines, IA 50309. Click to view Memory Board Photos displayed at Lois Roberts' funeral: https://youtu.be/EZuDMe9FYdY