Roberta Louise Rodenberg

ROBERTA LOUISE RODENBERG

Roberta went to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 23, 2023 following an accident and brief hospitalization. Services will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2023; visitation beginning 9:30 am followed by service at 11 am., St. Paul Church, Napoleon, MO with internment immediately following.

Roberta was born with her identical twin sister, Alberta, on January 7, 1934 in a farm house in Wellington MO, to Paul and Elda (Soendker) Michel. She was baptized at St. Luke’s in Wellington in 1934 and confirmed March 30, 1947 in the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church after moving to Kansas City, KS with the family in 1941.

The family moved back to Wellington, MO in 1948 to be near paternal grandparents and for the family to come back to the family farm. She met her future husband, Delbert Rodenberg of Napoleon during her years at Wellington-Napoleon R-IX School and graduated in May 1951. After graduation, she went to work for National Fidelity Life Insurance in Kansas City, MO while Delbert served in the Army. They were united in marriage on September 25, 1956 and lived for over 67 years together in Napoleon, and Independence, MO.

During this time Roberta was a homemaker and mother to two children, Diane and Gary. She worked many years side-by-side with Delbert in their business; Del Rod, Inc, an assembly company which Delbert founded in 1960 on the back porch of their house in Napoleon. Roberta was instrumental as Delbert’s right hand in the day-to-day operations of the company which included being a foreman, shipping and receiving, inspector and machine operator along with her duties as Secretary/Treasurer. The company operated until 2000 when it closed. For a time, she was also an employee of the Napoleon Bank.

Roberta was also active in St. Paul Church of Napoleon, teaching elementary Sunday School for over 30 years. She was a volunteer at the local elementary school and is a charter member of the Nap-Well Homemakers Club, serving as President and in other offices. She was a member of the local AARP holding various offices.

In addition to her work and volunteering, Roberta loved traveling and activities with her family, including watching the grandkids and great-granddaughters in their various school and sports related activities. During retirement she and Delbert traveled seven times to Europe, visited all 50 states, including three trips to Hawaii and an RV trip to Alaska. They put many miles on their RV’s travelling with friends and wintering in Arizona, Texas and Florida.

Roberta was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Elda Michel.

Surviving family members include; husband, Delbert of the home in Napoleon; daughter, Diane (Greg) Goold; granddaughter, Michelle (Joel) Mathews; great granddaughters, Reagan and McKinley of Independence; grandson Ryan (Danielle) Goold of Cave Creek, AZ; son, Gary (Lee) Rodenberg, of Napoleon, grandchildren, Alex Rodenberg of Jacksonville, FL, Max Rodenberg of Wellington and Macy Rodenberg currently residing in Brooklyn, NY; two sisters, Alberta (Alfred) Block and Linda (Kent) Dorsch both of Wellington.

She will be missed by a large circle of family, friends, and community.

Memorial donations can be made to St. Paul Church of Napoleon, MO Cemetery Fund or the Shriners Hospitals for Children; donorrelations@shrinernet.org

Arrangements have been entrusted to Walker-Nadler-Fuller Funeral Home, 1720 South Street, Lexington, MO  64067, 660-259-2245.