John Aubrey Roberts, 93, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, January 26, 2019 in Columbia. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 5 from 5:00 to 7:00pm at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 6 at 2:00pm, also at Memorial Funeral Home.
John, the sixth and last child of Elizabeth Jones and Robert Evan Roberts, was born March 24, 1925 in Sharon Township, Iowa. After graduating from high school in 1943 he helped his father maintain the family farm until early 1945, when he volunteered for military service during World War II. He entered the U.S. Army in June of 1945 and served for two years in the quartermaster corps, and was stationed in Marcianese, Italy. John entered the University of Iowa in 1947 and earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1951, and then accepted a teaching and coaching position at Seneca Township High School in Illinois for two years before returning to the family farm and the University of Iowa. He earned his master’s degree in physical education in 1956, and his doctorate in 1958, and then relocated to Pittsburg, KS to begin his collegiate teaching career as a professor at Pittsburg State College where he served for four years. John then took a leave of absence to join the Peace Corps, serving for two years in Colombia, South America. He returned to Pittsburg State for under a year before accepting a position at the University of Missouri in 1965. He taught at Mizzou for 27 years, including 21 years as the Director of Graduate Studies for the Physical Education Department. In his retirement he enjoyed working at Strawberry Hill Farms, reading about the Civil War and other historical periods, listening to Cardinal baseball games, and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Kay, two daughters, Sherrill Roberts of Liberty, MO and Stacy Schroeder (Kevin) of Columbia, MO, three grandchildren, Avery, Colt and Ethan, one brother, Wayne Roberts of Iowa City, IA, two nieces, Nora Noellsch and Mary Roberts, and nephew Paul Roberts. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Hilda, Joyce and Gleanna, and one brother, Don.
Memorials or tribute donations may be sent to the American Battlefield Trust, 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington D.C. 20005 or www.battlefields.org or Boys Town of Iowa, 1702 West Broadway, Suite 17, Council Bluffs, IA 51501 or online at www.boystown.org.
