James Francis Roberts

‍Jim was born on January 26th, 1945 to Wendall Sabey and Lucille Ida Roberts in Chicago, Illinois. He was the youngest of 5 siblings including Kent Roberts, Jane Roberts (deceased), Alan Roberts (deceased), and Jean Roberts (deceased). After graduating from Fenger High School in Chicago, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1963 and served three years in Germany as a radar and electronics specialist during the Vietnam War era.

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He married his wife, Silvia (Stenquist) Roberts June 15, 1968 in Chicago, and soon after moved to Phoenix, Arizona. His first child, Laura Jean, was born in Phoenix in 1975. In the early years in Arizona, Jim worked for the state of AZ as a teacher for people with intellectual disabilities while working toward a degree in Special Education at ASU. Silvia and Jim’s second child, Sarah Ann, was born in 1981. Shortly thereafter he began working as a truck driver for Keebler Cookies, where he was employed for over 30 years. He was a member of the Teamsters’ Union.

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Jim loved camping, spending time floating in the pool, dogs, fireworks, Caffeine-Free Diet Coke, and a good coconut cream pie. He loved his family and Christmas time and especially enjoyed time playing checkers or visiting with his grandchildren including: Chris Alan Roberts-Siros (27), Sophia Anne Coursey (20), Benjamin James Coursey (17), Charlotte Coursey (14), Elliot Brown (8), and step-grandchildren including: Bert Hardy (32), Ben Hardy (23), and Beth Hardy (20). ‍

Jim is survived by these grandchildren as well as wife Silvia, brother Kent, daughters Laura and Sarah, long-time friends Mike Mickley and Alan Wheeler, three fish, two cats, and a dog named Biscuit.

‍‍‍Jim’s life will be celebrated and honored at his memorial at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 8710 N 3rd Ave in Phoenix at 9:00 am on July 2, 2025 and interred in the Veterans’ National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on Pinnacle Peak Rd at 11:00 am July 3, 2025.

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for the Roberts family.