Anna Jane Roberts

Anna Jane Roberts, 98, of Bettendorf, Iowa, (formerly of Lawrence County, IL) passed away April 20, 2015, in Iowa. She was born May 22, 1916, in Lawrenceville, Illinois, to Edgar and Katherine Gosnell. She married Russell Lawrence Roberts on March 28, 1937. Russell passed away in 1957. Anna Jane grew up in the Lawrenceville area. She moved to Bettendorf in 2003 so she could be closer to some of her family. In 2008 she moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Davenport. She was a long time member of the Pleasant Ridge Christian Church in Lawrenceville. She was President of the Women's Fellowship and taught the Jr. High boys Sunday School Class for many years. She would travel to Colorado with the youth group to cook for them when they went on ski trips. She enjoyed working with young people. She was leader for the West Bond 4 - H Club for several years. Anna Jane served as cook at the Oil Belt Christian Service Camp in Flora, Illinois in the summers. Anna Jane was very involved in the Republican Party in Illinois. She was selected as a Republican of the Year in Illinois by the National Republican Congressional Committee in 2002. After her husband passed away she worked hard to support the family. She worked part-time at Hills Grocery in Pinkstaff, Illinois. She also worked as cook at Brookside School in Lawrenceville for 25 years. When she retired she had accumulated 129 sick days that she never used over the years. She passed on her strong work ethics to her children. Anna Jane enjoyed sewing and working in her vegetable and flower gardens. She enjoyed working at the church and cherished time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren. Those left to honor her memory include her daughter, Tonya (Asher) Carl , Bluffton, SC; sons Karl (Sharon) Roberts and Craig (Ellen) Roberts of Bettendorf, IA; nine grandchildren, Lisa, Jackie, Jamie, Amy, Tim, Kirk, Charissa, Erikka, and Hayley, 19 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; sisters, Lucille Rife, Mankato, MN; Jean Mullins, Dodge City, KS; Ruth Lathrop, Lawrenceville, IL; also several sister-in-laws, nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband Russell, her parents, two brothers, Edgar Gosnell and Frank Malcom, and sister Lois Curts. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM Friday at Pleasant Ridge Christian Church, Lawrenceville, Illinois. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 AM Saturday at the church. Burial will follow in Pollard Cemetery outside Lawrenceville. Emmons-Macey-Steffey Funeral Home is in charge of services. Memorials may be made to Pleasant Ridge Christian Church, R.R. 3, Lawrenceville, Illinois or The Good Samaritan Society of Davenport, Iowa. The family wants to thank the Genesis Hospice and Good Samaritan Home for the excellent care, kindness and love shown to mom over the past few years.