Roberta Jane Russell, daughter of James Edward Van Cleave and Fairy Rose Marie Clark Van Cleave, was born Aug. 20, 1927, on her parents’ farm near Yale, Iowa, and died Jan. 29, 2017, at Genesis Senior Living in Des Moines, Iowa. Roberta was 89 years, 5 months and 9 days old.
Roberta’s funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson. The Rev. Larry Monthei of Hope United Methodist in Cooper provided words of comfort. Her honorary casket bearers were Jay Elliott, Amanda Heilman, Brian Cook, Carrie Cook, Molly Brown, Austin Brown, Anne York, Ryan Humpal, Ashley Kelly and Ranae Fallis. Active casket bearers were Kenneth Russell, Dan Russell, Adam Kelly, James Russell, Nathan Heilman and Andy Russell.
Recorded music was “Legend of the Dogwood Tree,” “The Old Rugged Cross” and “In the Garden.” Burial was in Highland Township Cemetery in Bayard. Following the service at the cemetery, a time of lunch and fellowship was held at the Jamaica Community Center. The Jamaica women served.
Roberta attended country school in Cass Township and Victory Township before graduating from Yale High School.
Following her school days, she went into civil service work and assigned soon afterward to Wright-Patterson Field in Ohio.
On Oct. 23, 1946, she married Jack Russell in Dayton, Ohio. They were blessed with three sons, James, Kenneth and Danny.
The family made their home in various areas including Denver, Colo., and in Bayard, Yale and Jamaica.
Roberta was very involved in the Jamaica community. She never knew a stranger and had many friends.
Roberta was an ambitious lady, having worked for Garst Seed Company, Meadow Gold Products in Perry and Franklin Manufacturing as well as cleaning for others and mowing lawns for the city of Jamaica.
Most folks will remember the 25 years she drove bus for YJB School District and as a First Responder for Jamaica for many years.
Roberta will also be remembered for her love of genealogy and the joy she took in her membership in the Genealogical Society.
She enjoyed quilting and yard work and refinishing furniture, but her first love was her family. Roberta was blessed with a large extended family, and she looked forward to each and every gathering.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack, in 1982; a stillborn daughter, Katherine; son, Jim Russell; sisters, Delores Helle and husband, LeRoy, and Barbara Kipp; niece, Sara Helle; nephews, Eric Helle and Tom Van Cleave; and grandson-in-law, Rex Fallis.
Roberta’s memory will be cherished by her sons, Kenneth Russell and his wife,Deanna, of Storm Lake, Iowa, and Dan Russell and his wife, Kellie, of Truesdale, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Christyne Russell Hellebuyck and her husband, Al, of Drexel, Mo.; her beloved grandchildren, Jay Elliott, Carrie (Brian) Cook, Amanda (Nathan) Heilman, Molly (Austin) Brown, Adam (Ashley) Kelly, James Russell, Anne York, Ryan Humpal, Ranae Fallis and Andy Russell; great-grandchildren, Derek, Kayli, Ethan, Adeline, Nolan, Reis, Rylee, Alexander, Wyatt, Shawn, Dylan, Kayla, Nicholas, Kiersten, Ayden, Lily, Ian, Brooklyn, Skylar and Brayden; brother, Lee Van Cleave and his wife, Frances, of Perry; brother-in-law, Dick Kipp of Yale; many cousins; nieces;and nephews; other relatives; and many friends.
Memorials in Roberta’s name may be sent to Hastings Funeral Home, P.O. Box 204, 1417 Second St., Perry, IA 50220.
