Roberta Renberg

Roberta Renberg, 87, passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at the Methwick Community Campus located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A private graveside service will be held Saturday, February 18, 2017, at Prairie Lawn Cemetery in Boxholm, Iowa. For 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 three 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, Iowa. 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 1980's and up to his retirement in 1989. LaVern died on February 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 1950's 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 Methwick Community Campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2001. While at Methwick, she continued her musical skills by playing the piano for approximately 1,400 church services from 2002 to 2015. She was awarded a Methwick Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award in 2010. She enjoyed the Methwick 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, Arizona; Cynthia (Ervin) Root of Newhall, Iowa; Milo (Kim) Renberg of Menomonie, Wisconsin; six grandchildren (Amber, Amy, Sarah, Gretchen, David and Andrew); seven great-grandchildren and her sister Gladys Meier of Fort Dodge, Iowa.

All memorial funds will be donated to the Cedar Rapids Hospice Organization.