1924
William
2012
William "Bill" Henry Roberts
November 16, 1924 — July 11, 2012
Munising
William "Bill" Henry Roberts, age 87, of N6938 Chapel Drive, Munising, died at 4:45 a.m. at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette following a lengthy illness. He was born on November 16, 1924 in Newberry to the late Lewis and Emma (McClain) Roberts. Bill graduated from Grand Marais High School in 1943 and entered into the U.S. Army on June 23, 1943. Before heading to Europe, he married Frances "Shorty" Lucille Morrison on December 4, 1943. Bill was a Platoon Guide with the 10th Mountain Division in Europe and was involved in battle in the Northern Apennines and Po Valley. He was wounded on February 20, 1945 and earned the Purple Heart. Bill also earned the EAME and American Theater Ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal and Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged on November 7, 1945 as a Staff Sargent and returned home. Bill worked for the State of Michigan's Corrections Department for twenty-nine years. He retired as Lieutenant at Camp Cusino. Bill then worked with youth groups for the National Park Service at the Seney Wildlife Refuge. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Church and of the Knights of Columbus. Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, tying flies, loading shells, traveling, and reading.
He is survived by his wife of over sixty-eight years - Frances "Shorty" Roberts of Munising; children - Ronald Edward (Maureen) Roberts of Mendenhall, Mississippi, Pamela Sue Roberts of Munising, and Terry Francis (Darlene) Roberts of Munising; three grandsons - Jason Roberts, Andrew (Linda) Roberts, and Terry Darwin Roberts; great grandsons; Hakon and Carson Roberts; sister - Donna Bevard of Hillsdale, MI; sister-in-law - June Nettleton of Munising; brother-in-law - David "Sonny" (Ruth) Morrison of Seney; numerous nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his son William "Bill" David Roberts on December 14, 1992, brothers Lewis, Daniel, Edward, and Theodore Roberts, and sisters Marion Carver and Joan Pugh.
Visitation will be on Friday, July 13, 2012 at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a combined parish vigil and Knights of Columbus service at 7:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate Bill's Funeral Mass on Saturday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery where the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guards will conduct military honors. He will be escorted by Mike, Tom, Tony, Michael, and Steve Nettleton and Don Reed.
William "Bill" Henry Roberts, age 87, of N6938 Chapel Drive, Munising, died at 4:45 a.m. at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette following a lengthy illness. He was born on November 16, 1924 in Newberry to the late Lewis and Emma (McClain) Roberts. Bill graduated from Grand Marais High School in 1943 and entered into the U.S. Army on June 23, 1943. Before heading to Europe, he married Frances "Shorty" Lucille Morrison on December 4, 1943. Bill was a Platoon Guide with the 10th Mountain Division in Europe and was involved in battle in the Northern Apennines and Po Valley. He was wounded on February 20, 1945 and earned the Purple Heart. Bill also earned the EAME and American Theater Ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal and Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged on November 7, 1945 as a Staff Sargent and returned home. Bill worked for the State of Michigan's Corrections Department for twenty-nine years. He retired as Lieutenant at Camp Cusino. Bill then worked with youth groups for the National Park Service at the Seney Wildlife Refuge. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Church and of the Knights of Columbus. Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, tying flies, loading shells, traveling, and reading.
He is survived by his wife of over sixty-eight years - Frances "Shorty" Roberts of Munising; children - Ronald Edward (Maureen) Roberts of Mendenhall, Mississippi, Pamela Sue Roberts of Munising, and Terry Francis (Darlene) Roberts of Munising; three grandsons - Jason Roberts, Andrew (Linda) Roberts, and Terry Darwin Roberts; great grandsons; Hakon and Carson Roberts; sister - Donna Bevard of Hillsdale, MI; sister-in-law - June Nettleton of Munising; brother-in-law - David "Sonny" (Ruth) Morrison of Seney; numerous nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his son William "Bill" David Roberts on December 14, 1992, brothers Lewis, Daniel, Edward, and Theodore Roberts, and sisters Marion Carver and Joan Pugh.
Visitation will be on Friday, July 13, 2012 at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a combined parish vigil and Knights of Columbus service at 7:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate Bill's Funeral Mass on Saturday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery where the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Honor Guards will conduct military honors. He will be escorted by Mike, Tom, Tony, Michael, and Steve Nettleton and Don Reed.
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