Kenneth L Roberts

Kenneth L. Roberts, 87, of Moline, IL, died Wednesday, January 18, 2012, at Clarissa Cook Hospice in Bettendorf, IA. Services will be Monday, January 23rd, at 11:00 a.m., at St.Mary's Catholic Church, 412 - 10th Street, Moline, with a two-hour visitation at the church immediately prior to the service. Burial will be in National Cemetery on Arsenal Island in Rock Island, IL In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Arrowhead Ranch, Bethany For Children, or St. Mary's Catholic Church in Moline. Kenneth L. Roberts was born in Bemidji, MN, on September 2, 1924, to Vernon and Henrietta (Wilke) Roberts. On September 30, 1950, in Chicago, IL, he married Mary "Ginny" Virginia Lane who survives. Ken was a kind and generous family man with an intelligence and wit that endeared him to all. He will be missed. Ken loved morning coffee with the guys at Lagomarcino's, Cars, Card Games, Louis Prima and his Mother's gingerbread cookies. He entertained us with stories of his Dad and Mom barnstorming the Dakotas in the early years of aviation and childhood years spent living with his parents in a tent on a gold mine in New Mexico in the early 1930's. They lived in St. Louis for a while where he became a Harry Caray and Cardinals Baseball fan. While living in Moline, his Dad put him to work selling popcorn at the Airport and taught him the basics of business. He graduated from Moline High and like so many members of our "Greatest Generation", went off to war. He served in Europe in the 88th Armored Division Reconnaissance Squad (Three guys in a Jeep). He returned after D-Day and attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport. During those years he met and married the love of his life and until the very end professed how lucky he was she said "I do!" He went to work with his dad and a young man named J.D. "Mac" McAdam in an engine repair business. Ken's Dad died shortly after but the business continued successfully for another 40 plus years as Moline Engine Service on 23rd Ave. During those years, Ken partnered with two good friends to build the Cordova Drag Strip. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Exchange Club and was a commentator every Sunday for many years at St. Mary's Church in Moline. He enjoyed life and continued to learn new technology. He kept in touch with everyone, especially his grandchildren, through e-mail. In addition to his wife, Ginny, he is survived by: son, Ken (Vickie) Roberts of Moline; daughters, Alison (Tom) Maher of Linden, MI, and Cathy (Michael) Linn of Bettendorf, IA; grandchildren, Ryan, Noah, & Erin Roberts, Ann, Mary, Molly, Rose, John, and Therese Maher, and Kevin, Andrew, Courtney, and Kera Linn; and four great-grandchildren.

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