Roberta Lynn Dean

Roberta was born July 19, 1954 in Pekin to Robert Kearney and Marilyn Long. She later married David Dean in June 1982 in Biloxi, Mississippi, he survives.

Also surviving are one son, Charles Kearney; eight grandchildren, Kelsie, Cleyton, Cormac, Eoghan, Breanna, Aiden, Emily, and Riverlynn; one great-grandchild, Finnley; her mother; sister, Beckie; and three nephews, Jay, Mike, and Rob.

She is preceded in death by her father.

Roberta was a devoted member of the Pekin First United Methodist Church and was the president of the United Methodist Women’s group for eleven years.

She was also a veteran of the United States Air Force.

Roberta worked as a chef at Bradley University for the Kappa Delta sorority house and enjoyed cooking and baking in her free time as well as volunteering at her church and coloring.

A celebration of Roberta's life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 10, 2026 at the Pekin First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court Street in Pekin.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made in Roberta’s name to TAPS, 100 TAPS Lane, Pekin, IL 61554 or to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.