Leo (Gene) Eugene Roberts

Leo Eugene (Gene) Roberts, 80, of Fairfield, died Friday morning, January 6, 2012, at Sunnybrook Living Care Center.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at Pleasant Hill Cemetary, just south of Prairie City, Iowa. Pastor Mark Brase will be officiating. Memorials may be made to the Decatur County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, c/o Scott Roberts, 217 W 4th, Lamoni, Iowa, 50140 or to Sunnybrook Livivng Care Center, c/o Vicki Eastburn, 2204 Westhills Drive, Fairfield, Iowa, 52556.

Mr. Roberts was born March 30, 1931 in Percy, Iowa to Raymond Milton Roberts and Amy Findlow Roberts. He lived near Knoxville for several years, then the family moved to Des Moines. Mr. Roberts graduated from Des Moines East High School in 1949.

Mr. Roberts served in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years and was stationed at the Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. He married Stephanie Jane Roberts on June 15, 1952. She died December 21, 2011.

After retiring from the military, Mr. Roberts worked for a few years at Des Moines Meat Locker, then began working for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. He worked his way up to a management position and was employed there for over 25 years.

Upon his retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts moved to an acreage near Osceola where he gardened and raised ducks and geese. He loved to entertain his family there, especially his grandchildren, teaching them all about wildlife and fishing. He and Stephanie enjoyed annual trips to Minnesota where they spent their time fishing and cooking. They later moved to Russell, Iowa where he continued to enjoy hunting, fishing, playing cards, spending time with family and friends, and fish fries. He and Stephanie moved to Fairfield in the fall of 2009.

Suvivors include one daughter, Victoria Eastburn and husband David of Fairfield: one son, Scott Roberts and wife Karen of Lamoni: and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and one sister, Virginia Vail.