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Robert Renberg
ROBERTA RENBERG
Cedar Rapids
Roberta Renberg, 87, passed away Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at the Meth-Wick Community in Cedar Rapids. A private graveside service will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Boxholm, Iowa. For an online obituary and condolences, please visit www.carsonstappfuneralhome.com.
Roberta May Wilson was born on a farm in Harcourt, Iowa, to Enos and Rose Wilson on May 14, 1929. Roberta was introduced to music at an early age and sang her first solo when she was only 3 years old. Her mother Rose taught her the words and melody to the hymn, "I Am Jesus' Little Lamb," and Roberta sang this solo at the Burnside Lutheran Church in 1932. She graduated from Harcourt High School in 1947, then attended Drake University as a music major.
On March 5, 1949, she married LaVern Renberg, where they lived and farmed on the Renberg century farm located in Boxholm. Roberta worked alongside LaVern on the farm throughout the years, including field work, taking on more outside responsibility when LaVern's health was declining in the 1980s and up to his retirement in 1989. LaVern died on Feb. 28, 1994, just five days short of their 45th wedding anniversary.
Roberta served as church organist for 32 years and also was the junior choir director at the Boxholm Lutheran Church. She was well known in the community for her musical talent as she sang and played organ for local funerals from the 1950s until she retired from the farm. Roberta enjoyed crocheting and needle work and made countless items for friends and family members. She retired to the Meth-Wick Community in 2001. While at Meth-Wick, she continued her musical skills by playing the piano for approximately 1,400 church services from 2002 to 2015. She was awarded a Meth-Wick Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award in 2010. She enjoyed the Meth-Wick Community very much. She was also very proud of the three century farms in the family.
Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, mother, father and one grandson, Adam.
She is survived by her three children, Matthew (Sandra) Renberg of Phoenix, Ariz., Cynthia (Ervin) Root of Newhall and Milo (Kim) Renberg of Menomonie, Wis.; six grandchildren, Amber, Amy, Sarah, Gretchen, David and Andrew; seven great-grandchildren; and her sister, Gladys Meier of Fort Dodge.
All memorial funds will be donated to the Cedar Rapids Hospice Organization.
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