Roberts, Ronald Lee

Ronald Lee Roberts, 75, of Guttenberg, died Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque. Arrangements are being handled by Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 207 S. First St., Guttenberg, where the family will receive friends from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, May 5, and one hour before services at church. There will be a time for all to share memories of Ron from 5 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home and a celebration gathering at 6 p.m. at the Eagles Club in Guttenberg. Funeral services will be at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Guttenberg, at 11 a.m. Friday, May 6. The Rev. Marvin Bries will officiate.

Ron was born in Waukesha, Wis., on April 14, 1936. As a child he lived in Waterloo and Riceville, ultimately moving to Cresco, where he was active in track, wrestling and football. Ron was an outstanding athlete; he went to state in wrestling and track where he medaled and he held a school track record (Cresco High School) until just a few years ago. Ron met wife, Yvonne Slifka, in high school and they were married in 1956; they had four children, Linda, Julie, Ron Jr. and Nick.

Ron has always been ambitious in all that he did; when he and Yvonne were first married he worked at Rath's Packing for 10 years, sold life insurance, drove a dry ice truck and saved his money. He soon started investing and diversifying. Ron had nursing homes, laundromats, a trucking company, farms, and hotels. Post retirement, Ron and son Nick started an amusement game business.

Ron was a member of St. Mary's Church, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Fraternal Order of Eagles and Moose Lodge. Ron loved boating on the Mississippi River and passed his love on to all of his family and friends. You always had a welcome place with Ron on the river. Ron and Yvonne moved to Guttenberg in 2004 to be closer to the river that they loved.

Ron was a very loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend.

Ron is survived by his wife, Yvonne; daughter, Linda Riley, and granddaughters, Alaina and Anna, West Des Moines; daughter, Julie Ilax (husband Todd), Evansdale; grandsons, Nicholas Ilax (wife Courtney), and great-grandsons, Nicholas Jr. and Thomas, Evansdale; granddaughter, Kimberly Skaff (husband Steven Skaff), Round Lake, Ill.; grandson, Anthony Ilax (wife Amber), Waterloo, granddaughter, Christina Ilax, Cedar Falls; son, Ronald Jr. (wife Daphne), Clermont; son, Nick (wife Tara), granddaughter, Emerie, and grandson, Nicholas, Cedar Falls; sister, Joanne Swanell (husband Bob), Bloomington, Minn.; and brothers, Mike Roberts, Cresco, and Ralph Roberts (wife Janice), Gainesville, Fla.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Betty and Ralph Roberts; and one brother, David Roberts.

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