Leroy "Rob" J Roberts

He was born in Bradford PA on June 22, 1942 to parents R. John Roberts and Ruth (Barrett) Roberts. After graduation from Bradford Area High School, he enlisted in the U S Navy in 1961. Upon completion of basic training at Great Lakes he served on both destroyer tender USS Acadia and destroyer escort USS Lansing as a fire control technician and rescue swimmer with much of his service time stationed based out of Pearl Harbor. He also had the honor of competitively swimming during his enlistment and made the All-Navy Swim Team specializing in freestyle.

Upon his completion of his enlistment in 1965, Rob returned to Bradford and married Jo Ann Hadsell of Bradford on August 20, 1966. They spent 57 years together raising a family, traveling, and teaching swimming. In 1970 the family relocated to Harrisburg PA where Rob accepted a position as a computer operator with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He retired from that role in 2001. In 2008 he and Jo Ann moved to Riverdale Iowa to be closer to their grandchildren. He took great joy in overseeing the construction of an in-ground backyard pool and spent many years teaching children to swim there. Rob had a lifelong devotion to volunteering. A participant in three Red Cross National Aquatic Schools he taught swimming and water safety with the Red Cross, Boy Scouts, YMCA and privately for many years both in PA and in IA. He also was a volunteer ambulance and fireman in Chambers Hill PA, a member of the Dauphin County Volunteer Fireman’s Association, life member of the American Legion Post #998, member of the Destroyer Escort Sailor’s Association (DESA) and Destroyer Escort Historical Foundation (DEHF), and member of the Middletown Angler’s and Hunter’s Association and the NRA.

He is survived by his loving wife Jo Ann, as well as daughters and sons-in-law Anne and Tony Zemo of LeClaire IA and Carol and Tom Moyer of Alexandria VA and his grandchildren Kane and Katia Zemo of LeClaire IA. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Gary and Michelle Roberts of Stroudsburg, PA and his sister and brother-in-law Bonnie and Robert Gordon of Altoona PA as well as sister-in-law Elizabeth Hadsell of Englewood FL and sister and brother-in-law Jane and Craig Exley of Weirton WV and numerous nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents as well as sister-in-law Mary Lou Wolbert and brothers-in-law Thomas Wolbert and Gordon Hadsell.

Visitation for family and friends will be at the Runge Mortuary in Davenport IA from 2:00pm to 3:00pm Thursday, November 30, 2023. Funeral services will follow at 3:00pm in the Runge Chapel. Internment at McKean Memorial Park in Lewis Run, PA will be scheduled with a private family service at a later date. If you wish to donate in lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Rob’s history of service with a donation to a water safety or veterans’ charity of your choice.