Roberta "Robbie" Jayne Thomas

Robbie was born January 15, 1943 in Peoria, IL to Gerald H. and Jayne Poplett. She died April 1, 2024 in Lakewood CO. She was preceded in death by her father and mother, step-father Bob Burns, brother Robert Burns, husband Bob Liljegren and lifelong friend Shirley Whitney. She is survived by her husband, Jim Thomas, children Kent Liberator (Rebecca Nichols) and Michelle Liberator, step children Brian Thomas of Lakewood, Rex (Jane) Thomas of Nebraska, and Clint (Taryn) Thomas of Castle Rock; brother-in-law Gene Thomas and sister-in-law Joy Thomas of New Hampshire, brother-in-law Craig Sulzer and special sister-in-law Anita Sulzer of Ohio; grandchildren Briton (Andrew) Long of Nebraska, Brooke (Brad) Thomas of Nebraska, Sterling Thomas of Nebraska, Ace Thomas and Xander Thomas of Castle Rock; great grandchildren Tyrion Rex Thomas and Renlee Long of Nebraska; and close friends Marsha Moore, Lakewood and Shirley Mahoney, Arvada.

Roberta (Robbie) Jayne Thomas Eulogy

Roberta Jayne Poplett was born in Peoria, IL January 15, 1943 to Gerald and Jayne Poplett. Gerald was killed March 28, 1944 when his B-17 Bomber was shot down over Chateaudun, France. Jayne and Roberta moved to Denver to be with relatives. Jayne eventually married Bob Burns. Roberta graduated from East High School in 1960. She married Jack Liberator and had two children, Kent in 1963 and Michelle in 1966. Roberta and Jack separated and later divorced. She married Bob Liljegren in 1977. Bob died in March 1984. During much of this time she was essentially a single mom raising two children while working fulltime outside the home. Roberta, most knew her as Robbie, and Jim met at a support group for young widows and widowers. They began dating in mid-1986, became engaged in 1989, married in 1992 (Jim believed in ”nice and easy”) and honeymooned in the Bahamas. They enjoyed more than 35 years together. They were a near-perfect match in personality, intellect, maturity, interests, temperament and other fine traits. After retiring, she obtained an associate degree from Arapahoe Community College and indulged her interest in reading, particularly the novels of Mary Higgens Clark and Danielle Steele. She was a member of the American War Orphans Network. Robbie and Jim were avid ballroom dancers until that genre almost disappeared. They travelled several times to Hawaii and Mexico, the wine county of California (travelling twice by train), and Las Vegas, where they attended many Frank Sinatra concerts – and perhaps played a few slot machines. They also visited England and France. In 2015, they returned to France as guests of a local group commemorating the liberation of Chateaudun by the American army in August of 1944. Robbie made an emotional visit to the exact location where her father’s plane crashed. The French people never forgot America’s sacrifice. Robbie helped dedicate a plaque with names of her father and other airmen killed that day in March 1944. She relished visits at family dinners, and with her grandchildren, especially evening “girl talks” with Michelle, Briton and Brooke on the patio swing. Recently, she was delighted by visits from her new great grandchildren, Tyrion and Renlee. Jim and Robbie loved fine chardonnay wine and spent many evenings dining out with friends, usually Mike and Joanie Martinez. Robbie was a beautiful, loving and devoted wife and mother, a good friend, and a wonderful grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and loved her.