Evelyn A. (Balsiger) Roberts, age 94 of Rockford, IL, formerly of Monroe, died Saturday, January 28, 2012 in Rockford.
Evelyn was born December 31, 1917 in Green County, WI to Christian and Anna (Marty) Balsiger. She was confirmed at St. John's United Church of Christ, graduated from Monroe High School in 1935, and Rockford Business College.
Evelyn was a pioneer for women in many areas. She learned to speak the German Swiss language of her parents. She attended a one room country school where she learned English and subsequently taught her parents and 4 siblings how to speak and understand the English language. During World War II, Evelyn attended Rockford Business College while living in the Girl's Residence in Rockford. She went on to secure jobs in the Chicago area and later California where she worked as a secretary. She lived on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles and the Evangeline Young Women's Home before her marriage in 1951 to Arnold S. Roberts in Monroe. The couple moved to Kansas City, MO where Evelyn was a 40 year member and Past President of the Kansas City Athenaeum Club. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards and traveling especially to Germany and her ancestral Switzerland. She also toured Australia and New Zealand when she was in her early 80's.
She is survived by two sisters, Florence Swinson of Rockford, IL, and Esther Gobeli of Monroe; a brother, Leon Balsiger of Chino Hills, CA; a sister-in-law, Ruth Roberts; 16 nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Albert Balsiger; brothers-in-law, Frederick Gobeli and Dolph Roberts; Sisters-in-law, Dorothy Balsiger and Betty Balsiger; and a nephew, Douglas Swinson.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 3, 2012, at 11:00 A.M. at the Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, with Pastor James Moore of the Riverside Assembly of God, Rockford, officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, followed by a luncheon at St. John's United Church of Christ. Memorials may be given in Evelyn's name to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, 6401 Newburg Road, Rockford, IL 61108 or a charity of your choice.
To send an expression of sympathy go to www.newcomerfuneralhome.net.
Evelyn was born December 31, 1917 in Green County, WI to Christian and Anna (Marty) Balsiger. She was confirmed at St. John's United Church of Christ, graduated from Monroe High School in 1935, and Rockford Business College.
Evelyn was a pioneer for women in many areas. She learned to speak the German Swiss language of her parents. She attended a one room country school where she learned English and subsequently taught her parents and 4 siblings how to speak and understand the English language. During World War II, Evelyn attended Rockford Business College while living in the Girl's Residence in Rockford. She went on to secure jobs in the Chicago area and later California where she worked as a secretary. She lived on Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles and the Evangeline Young Women's Home before her marriage in 1951 to Arnold S. Roberts in Monroe. The couple moved to Kansas City, MO where Evelyn was a 40 year member and Past President of the Kansas City Athenaeum Club. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards and traveling especially to Germany and her ancestral Switzerland. She also toured Australia and New Zealand when she was in her early 80's.
She is survived by two sisters, Florence Swinson of Rockford, IL, and Esther Gobeli of Monroe; a brother, Leon Balsiger of Chino Hills, CA; a sister-in-law, Ruth Roberts; 16 nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Albert Balsiger; brothers-in-law, Frederick Gobeli and Dolph Roberts; Sisters-in-law, Dorothy Balsiger and Betty Balsiger; and a nephew, Douglas Swinson.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 3, 2012, at 11:00 A.M. at the Newcomer Funeral Home, Monroe, with Pastor James Moore of the Riverside Assembly of God, Rockford, officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe, followed by a luncheon at St. John's United Church of Christ. Memorials may be given in Evelyn's name to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, 6401 Newburg Road, Rockford, IL 61108 or a charity of your choice.
To send an expression of sympathy go to www.newcomerfuneralhome.net.