Rodney Roberts

Hastings resident, Rodney R. Roberts, 77, died Friday, April 22, 2011 at Mary Lanning Memorial HealthCare, Hastings, Nebraska.

Celebration of Life will be Tuesday, April 26, 2011; 1:30 P.M. at Butler Volland Chapel, Hastings, Nebraska with Rev. Alan Davis officiating. Private family burial will be in Aurora Cemetery, Aurora, Nebraska. There will be no viewing or visitation as the Rodney was cremated. Memorials may be given to the Rodney R. Roberts memorial fund.

Rodney R. Roberts was born September 6, 1933 in Fairbury to Russell B. & Mildred (Baker) Roberts. The family moved to Omaha and Sioux City, Iowa, where he graduated from Central High School and was in a barbershop quartet. He attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He also attended and graduated from Kearney State Teachers College, now known as the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He taught at Clay Center High School, North Platte High School, Hastings Junior and Senior High School. He also served as Director of Media Services and Librarian at Central Community College, Hastings. He married Ruth Ann Barker in the First Methodist Church, Lexington, Nebraska on March 11, 1955. To this union were born two sons, Russell Kent Roberts and Craig Harold Roberts. He moved to Hastings in 1961 with his family. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, member of the Chancel Choir for nearly 39 years and very active in church activities. His memberships include charter member of the Hastings Barbershop Chorus of the Plains, and barbershop quartet, The Four Dads, Hastings Noon Lions Club, HARTA, Adams County Historical Society and Adams County Genealogical Society. Rod was a past member of the B.P.O.E #159. He was an avid reader, historian, especially of Nebraska history, loved Dixieland Jazz, Ragtime piano music and enjoyed singing barbershop quartet music. Tent camping and traveling brought him much enjoyment. He will be remembered for his keen sense of humor and ready wit.

Rodney R. Roberts was preceded in death by his parents, brother Tony Roberts, granddaughter, Elizabeth Faith Roberts, and grandson, Michael Kent Roberts.

SURVIVORS:
Wife: Ruth Ann Roberts - Hastings, NE
Son & Former Daughter-in-law: Russ Roberts - Lincoln, NE
Catherine Corbet - Lincoln, NE
Son & Friend: Craig Roberts - Guernsey, WY
Jéan-Luc Javert - Guernsey, WY
Brother & Spouse: David & Micki Roberts - Schuyler, NE
Sister & Spouse: Leslie & Cary Lee - Amarillo, TX
Granddaughter & Fiancé: Sarah Elise Roberts & Shane Lavy - Lincoln, NE
Great-granddaughter: Sienna Claire Roberts - Lincoln, NE
Niece, 3 Nephews and many friends and colleagues