Kenneth William Roeber

Kenneth William Roeber was born on October 12, 1944, in Whittemore, Iowa, the oldest child of Wilbur and Vera (Dau) Roeber. Ken grew up with a hammer in his hand, working side-by-side with his father, uncles and brothers in the family construction business. He was always enamoured by anything with a motor, the faster the better. When cars weren’t fast enough, he took to the air and became a pilot.

He proudly served his country in the US Army, with boots on the ground in Vietnam from 1965-1967. Upon returning home, he worked in aviation training, eventually landing in Hutchinson MN, to manage the airport there. It was during that time, he happened into a restaurant on a friday evening in February of 1969 and spotted a beautiful blond across the room - he and his sweetheart, Barbra Jane Kingsriter were married on September 27th of that same year. In 1970, the two packed their belongings and moved to Jamestown, North Dakota so that Ken could take a job flying for Dakota Bake-n-Serve, later flying for Western Gear Corp. They made the prairie their home where their two daughters were born and raised. In 1996, they sold the house Ken and Barb built on the Jamestown Reservoir as life took them to Wisconsin. There, Ken flew for US Bank, retiring in 2002 to their paradise on the shores of Lake Sylvan in Pillager, Minnesota. He built the taj-ma-treehouse for his beloved granddaughter Bromley, and over the years that treehouse hosted countless young friends who equally loved their time at Oma and Opa’s. Ken and Barb lived the best of both worlds, spending retirement summers on the lake, and winters at their second home in Mesa, Arizona. In 2018, they made Leisure World in Arizona their full time home.

His retirement afforded him time to pursue his love of woodworking. He spent countless hours in the woodshop building treasures for his loved ones, solid wood furniture, and even a full size 42-string harp.

He was known for his commanding presence, booming voice and laugh. But he also had a lovely bass singing voice, and will be remembered for the songs he was always ready to sing. In his final years, he found joy singing with the Tremble-Clefs, a music therapy choral group for people with Parkinson’s Disease.

He loved to travel, most recently to Europe to hear his grandson William sing with the Vienna Boys Choir. He loved the water, boating and scuba diving with his family well into his 70’s. He loved his fast cars - his Corvettes, but more than anything, he loved his family including those friends in life who became family to him.

Left to mourn are the love of his life, his wife of nearly 52 years, Barbra Roeber of Mesa, AZ, daughters Heidi (Rolf) and Heather, grandchildren Bromley Jane and William Kenneth Rice and their father Evan, step grandchildren Erol and Ela; his sister, Diane (Jerry) Anderson, his brother Randy (Vickie) Roeber, his sister-in-law Renee (Ron) Rochleau, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends all over this country. Welcoming him home were his parents and his beloved brother William.

For those wishing to do so, memorials preferred to Tremble Clefs of Arizona or Disabled American Veterans.