Don E. Roberts

Don E. Roberts was 87 years old and passed away on January 1, 2017. Don was born to Hazel Lynch and George Valentine Roberts as the youngest of five children. Don served in the U.S. Army in Japan for three years where he adopted and housed three homeless Japanese children. He spent most of his career working as a welder and retired from Inland Steel. Don was an avid sportsman and conservationist dedicated to the restoring and rebuilding of wetlands as president of Waterfowl USA (North West Indiana Chapter) for the last 30 years and a member of the Board of Directors for National Waterfowl USA. He also belonged to Ducks Unlimited and the National Rifle Association. Through his conservation work Don received many awards including "Conservationist of the Year" at the Chicago Outdoor Show. His compassion for nature not only was on the sportsman level… he also regularly provided land management for Bluebirds, Rabbits, Waterfowl and other wildlife to flourish at the "Don and Mary Roberts Wildlife Area" and other wetlands managed through Waterfowl USA. He is survived by his wife, Mary S. Kujawski; sister, Mary Krueger (brother in law Mike Krueger); children: James E. Roberts, Barbara J. Roberts, and Susan E. Roberts along with grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He will be deeply loved and missed by so many for being such a devoted husband and parent as well as an advocate to nature and the wildlife that he helped flourish. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. DIRECTLY at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1 W. Wilhelm St., Schererville, IN with Rev Ted Mauch officiating. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery, Schererville, IN. Friends are invited to meet with the family Wednesday, January 11, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Vigil service 6:00 p.m) at Kuiper Funeral Home, 9039 Kleinman Road (two blocks south of Ridge Road) Highland, IN. Please visit: www.kuiperfh.com