Mary Roberts Obituary

Mary Joy Roberts, 93 of Rolfe, Iowa, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2025.
Mary Joy was born January 28, 1931, to Howard A. and Mabel E. (Kemp) Mackie. Mary Joy was raised on the farm she was born on and graduated from Laurens High School in 1948. She attended business school at A.I.B. in Des Moines returning to Laurens in 1949 to work for the law firm of F.C. Gilchrist, Jr. On October 8, 1950, Mary Joy was united in marriage to Harrison Roberts of Rolfe, Iowa. They lived on the family farm north of Rolfe where they raised their four children. Mary Joy helped with the farming, chores and raised chickens. The couple moved into Rolfe in 1985. Mary Joy and Harrison loved to dance. They traveled NW Iowa going to the Ridotto, Plantation Ballroom, Cobblestone, Woodcliff and DMT Ballroom. You could also find them on many Saturday nights dancing with the Rolfe Promenaders. In 1976 Mary Joy began working part-time as a legal secretary for Charles A. Gunderson, retiring in 1999. Harrison passed away in December of 2007 and Mary Joy continued to make her home in Rolfe.
Mary Joy was an active member of the Rolfe Methodist Church for 40 years. She led both Jr. and Sr. Choirs and played organ for church services for 12 years. She helped with music activities at the Rolfe Care Center for over 20 years. In 1990 she joined Faith Community Church, Palmer, Iowa.
Mary Joy was predeceased by her parents, Howard and Mabel; her husband, Harrison; son, Curtis; grandson, Jeffrey; great-grandson, Owen; her brother, Roger and his wife Harriet; brother, Jerry; brother-in-law, Ronny Walstead; an infant sister, Lona Lee and special friend, John Hoefing.
She is survived by her children, Dean (Debbie) Roberts of Pocahontas, Joan (Bryan) Groves of Paola, Kansas and Nancy Wittrock of Fort Dodge; sister, Anne Walstead of Laurens, brother Gene Mackie of Cedar Falls, sister-in-law, Leritta Mackie of Boone; five grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, one great-great granddaughter as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the staff at West Bend Health and Rehabilitation and St. Croix Hospice for their compassionate care and support during Mary Joy's final days.