John D. Roberts

John Roberts passed away on Friday February 16, 2018 in Springfield, Illinois at the age of 94. John was born in Springfield, Illinois on January 6, 1924, the fourth child of Thomas and Sally Roberts, with two more brothers to follow. John was a East Pleasant Hill grade school and Lanphier High School graduate, and worked at Sangamo Electric until entering the air force and serving in the Pacific during WWII as flight engineer and top turret gunner on B-24 bombers. John and his crew were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for action over Iwo Jima on the flight that he was wounded on and later hospitalized. After finishing his service with 32 flight missions he returned to Springfield and Sangamo, married Helen Eggebeen and started a family. On December 29, 1976, John married Norma Vanselow and spent the last 41 wonderful years with her, including 12 years in Rogers Arkansas, on Beaver Lake.

John knew many people and his son reports that they could not go anywhere without running into someone he knew. John enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and coached little league for many years. Along with his parents, John was preceded in death by all his brothers and sisters: Nora Kemp, Joan Stone, Tom Roberts, Robin Evan Roberts, and George Roberts; daughter Sally and first wife Helen. He is survived by William of South Haven, Michigan, Thomas of Cheyenne Wyoming, four grandchildren and one great grandson.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday February 27, 2018 at Bisch and Son Funeral Home, 505 East Allen Street. The family will meet friends one hour prior to the service at Bisch. In lieu of flowers you may make donations to the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy at http://www.parentprojectmd.org, or the family will take checks made out to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy and please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischandsonfuneralhome.com.