Gerald Kent Roberts

Gerald Kent Roberts, age 89, of Zion Crossroads, VA, and former longtime resident of Evansville, WI, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at the home he shared for many years of his youngest daughter Kathryn in Virginia, with close family by his side, holding his hand, praying, and singing him to the angels. He was born on July 29, 1935, in Janesville, Wisconsin to the late Kennard and Mabel Roberts of Evansville, Wisconsin. Gerald (Jerry) grew up in the town of Evansville, and graduated from Evansville High School in 1953, where he enjoyed playing the snare drum in the EHS ensemble band, singing in chorus, and playing intermural basketball. He attended Madison Business College where he received his Associate Accounting Degree in 1955. He later enlisted in the Navy from 1956-1960 where he spent two years stationed in Nevada, then overseas on the newly commissioned Suribachi-class ammunition ship, the USS Mauna Kea (AE-22), outside of Yokosuka, Japan as a Disbursing Clerk & Petty Officer- 2nd Class, also porting in places like Hong Kong, Okinawa, Manila, San Francisco, and Pearl Harbor. Jerry readily recounted how he accepted Jesus Christ as His personal Lord and Savior one night while on the bunk of his Navel ship in 1960, when visited by members of the Navigators, living a full life loving, serving, and following the Lord. He met his future wife, Susanne Conner while at Port in San Francisco in 1959 when they were both invited to a Bible study by friends, neither of them wanting to go, but both so glad they went. They later married in San Francisco on September 11th, 1965 with many of Susanne’s relatives and friends in attendance. Jerry attended college at Asbury in Wilmore, KY from 1961-1965 where he received his BA, with a double major in History & English. After, he attended Asbury Seminary from 1966-1968, where he received his Masters of Divinity. He later moved with his family to Beltsville, Maryland and worked a block from the White House as an Assistant Supervisor for an insurance company. He often recounted the moment of watching the Nation’s flag being lowered to half-staff when President Dwight Eisenhower died, and seeing President Nixon with First Lady, Pat Nixon leaving the White House in front of him in the back of the Presidential Limousine as they traveled to Walter Reed Hospital to pay their respects to the Eisenhower family. He later returned to his hometown of Evansville, WI with his wife and two daughters, raising his family in the beautiful small hometown where he grew up. He worked for several years at Capital Indemnity Insurance Company in Madison, WI as an Internal Auditor, later retiring from WPS Insurance company in Madison, WI. After his wife Susanne & his mother Mabel passed, he moved to Lexington, KY in 2005 to be with his youngest daughter, Kathryn (Kat) and her family, including his grandson, Joshua, born the same week his wife Sue passed. He later relocated to Virginia with Kat's family, and spent his remaining 17 years living with them, watching his grandson Josh grow to adulthood. He enjoyed visits from his eldest daughter Mary, who lives in France with her family, along with his two grandchildren, Lucie & Timothée. A special memory for him was when he traveled to Europe to visit along with his grandson Joshua as his travel partner, when he was 77 and Josh was 11, seeing many sites across southern France, and spending his 78th Birthday with his European family. Having his Master's of Divinity, Jerry would readily fill-in officiating at several local church services, also preaching at area nursing homes for many years in Wisconsin. He taught Sunday School for several years at the United Methodist church in Evansville including his daughter Kathy’s class for a couple years while she was in middle school. Later, he often sang special music a-Capella with his beautiful baritone voice at Wednesday night services at Calvary Chapel Fluvanna in Virginia where he attended the past several years, and had recently begun a men's Bible study at his daughter's home, still inviting people just days before he passed. He regularly mentored others with weekly individual Bible studies & prayer on the phone, and had a real gift of Bible memorization reciting multiple Bible passages by heart, helping others to do the same, while always remaining humble. Jerry was an avid sports fan, growing up listening to Chicago Cubs games on the radio prior to the Milwaukee Braves, and Brewers teams. He often recounted how he traveled with his parents and grandparents to Chicago for his first double-header on July 24th, 1948, the week he turned 12 years old to see the Cubs vs. Giants for $1.50 Grandstand seats. For multiple years, he enjoyed attending EHS football and basketball home & away games with his wife and friends, and held season tickets to the Wisconsin Badgers games he attended with his family. He passed his love of sports on to his grandson Joshua, where they would share weekly game scores, team rankings, and game highlights with each other. He truly loved singing in church, and also at home. He passed this love of singing on to his daughters at very young ages during weekend car rides to visit a disabled cousin. He enjoyed being out in nature going for long walks, hikes, and bike rides, and traveling/vacationing many years with his family, and passed down the love of adventure to his daughters & grandchildren. He greatly enjoyed exercise and was a runner for many years, jogging each morning before work until retirement age. He still spoke of getting back on the bike and shooting hoops in the final weeks if his life. • He is survived by his two daughters, Kathryn ‘Kat’ Caswell of Zion Crossroads VA, daughter Mary Daban, son-in-law, J. Baptiste (JB); and his grandchildren, Joshua Caswell, Timothée Daban, and Lucie Daban and several nephews & nieces. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Susanne; half-brother, Phil Roberts; and half-sister, Virgene “Tootie” Gransee. A Celebration of Life service was previously held on Friday, September 13, 2024, at 4 p.m. at Calvary Chapel Fluvanna, 2772 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Palmyra, VA 22963, with a reception at the church following. A public graveside Memorial service and interment will be held at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Evansville on the One Year Anniversary of his passing on Sunday, September 7th, 2025 at 12pm with a light luncheon following the service at the VFW in Evansville. A very special thanks to members of Hospice of the Piedmont team, who showed such loving care to him during his final six months of life. An online guestbook is available at www.compassionatecremationva.com In lieu of flowers, feel free to make donations in Jerry’s honor to Hospice of the Piedmont, Calvary Chapel Fluvanna Youth Ministry, or the charity of your choice. We miss you so very much, our precious, loving Father & Papa. Together again, with your beloved Susanne in Heaven. Philippians 3:10-11 ‘Fly to Jesus… and Live.’

Gerald Kent Roberts

July 29, 1935 - September 7, 2024