Vivian G. Roberts

On February 19, 2011 our Mother Vivian "Sarge" Roberts passed away peacefully into the loving arms of God. Mom was born on July 21, 1922 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Her loving parents were Alice (Gries) and Robert X. Stiefvater Sr. Mom was brought up in a family whose strong faith in God guided them to serve others. Our Mother was a caregiver and protector from little on, especially for her sisters Alice and Carol. Mom graduated from Lincoln High School in 1940 returning many times for her class reunions. Mom developed life long friendships, especially with her dear friend Gretchen. Mom proudly graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Mom began her nursing career in Milwaukee working at St. Joseph's hospital. Her father called her and said a health nurse was needed in Manitowoc to care for the families on the naval base there. World War II saw her oldest brother Eugene serving in the Navy and thus Mom also heeded the call to serve her country. Mom joined the Army Nurse Corp in 1945. Her basic training was at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin after which she was headed to South Carolina for training. Most of the nurses she was with were bound for the south Pacific and this helped with the training in disease control and wound care for that sort of climate. Mom was part of the five hundred nurses that boarded a hospital ship headed for different locations in the south pacific. Due to mechanical problems the ship docked in Panama and the nurses were assigned to the hospital there. When repairs were complete the ship headed for Hawaii but didn't make it and the ship docked in Los Angeles, California where Mom was assigned to Camp Pendleton. Mom then transferred to Fort Sam Huston, in Texas which had the largest military hospital at that time. She worked in the military hospital there and got her first look at patients returning home from the war. It was at this time that she had the honor of meeting "her boss" the then General Eisenhower. Mom had been caring for a major who had been twice captured and was horribly tortured by the Japanese. General Eisenhower came to visit his friend, the major, and wanted to meet the staff that was caring for the major's wounds. General Eisenhower spent time talking with Mom, it was an experience she never forgot. New orders sent Mom to Fort Kilner, New Jersey, and from there she boarded the naval ship The Republic that was headed for Germany. Mom was stationed at the military hospital in Stuttgart, Germany. The war had a profound effect on our Mother as she cared for soldiers and their families. She joyfully delivered babies and caringly tended the worst of wounds and with faith held the hands of those dying. She was with a group of nurses and soldiers that went to the Auschwitz concentration camp after it had been liberated. The nurses were not allowed to go into the camp but took care of those in need from outside the gates. Those horrible memories never left her. Along with her generous parents, our Mom helped the local Germans by providing clothes and food to those in need. It was a time when even the smallest of gestures meant so very much. One special memory was Christmas 1946, when the U.S. hospital staff along with the German staff celebrated by singing Silent Night, each in their own language. Mom always kept a special place in her heart for memories of serving in Stuttgart. From Germany she returned to Fort Kilner and was discharged from the service. Mom was so proud to have served her country and attended many Memorial Day services to remember her fallen comrades. Mom was interviewed for two of the D.C Everest Area Schools oral history projects, World War II and the Great Depression. Mom returned to work in Milwaukee and it was there that she met her future husband Bob Roberts. The first time he met her Dad said he would marry her someday. Dad was in the Air Force at that time so Mom decided to go ahead to San Francisco where she had a new job waiting for her there. With a group of her friends, she travelled west in her beloved powder blue Studebaker. Mom didn't stay in San Francisco long before she decided to follow the man she loved and they were married on July 27, 1950 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Our parents moved throughout the US to wherever our father was stationed. From Alaska to Mississippi they moved their ever growing family; all the while Mom was still active in her nursing career. Our family settled in Wausau after our father was discharged from the Air Force. Mom went to work at Memorial Hospital as first a floor nurse, then a head nurse and then a pharmacist. We have fond memories of the times we stopped at the hospital to get a dime from her to go swimming at Memorial Park. Mom was the quintessential neighborhood nurse, patching up and caring for our friends and their families. This especially was helpful when our injuries grew in correlation to our ages. Our Dad passed away on March 30, 1972 leaving Mom to raise seven children on her own. Even though money was tight, we always had clothes to wear, enough to eat and a roof over our heads. Even in our wild days, Mom would tell us how disappointed she was with our behavior and it was like a knife to the heart to have let her down. Mom made sure our birthdays and the holidays were special occasions. When Mom did her baking it was an all day affair, but she happily shared her delicious goods, this continued even after we had left home. Mom would call us to pick up some rolls to share with our friends. Her generosity had no bounds. Mom was always so proud of her children and their accomplishments. She passed on her gift of service to others to all of us. Mom became the head nurse on the Maple Hill Alcohol and Drug Abuse unit at Wausau Hospital. Mom had been involved with Al-anon so it was an easy transition into this job. It was here that Mom got her nickname "Sarge" which stuck with her even after she retired. Mom was instrumental in the establishment of the Alano Club in Wausau. She proudly served on its board for many years and rolled up her sleeves and helped out whenever necessary. She had a special love for the people in the program, always seeing the person not the disease. Mom never quit serving others; she volunteered over 200 hundred hours at Wausau Hospital. Mom then cared for the elderly in their homes. She is lovingly remembered by many families for her compassionate care of their loved ones. Mom felt is was a blessing to hold the hands of those dying and felt that it was what God had intended her to do. Mom found her greatest love with the coming of her grandchildren. She sang to them in German as babies, volunteered at their schools and reveled in all of their accomplishments as they grew. She sewed costumes for them, went to school plays, concerts and dance performances. She will be remembered for her wonderful hugs. She always had a gold star in her pocket that she passed out when one of them had done a good job. She also is fondly remembered for her two dollar bills that she put in the grandkids' birthday cards. Most of all her grandchildren remember her for the love she gave to each of them. They are heartbroken and they will forever miss Grandma Vee Vee. Mom would have been so delighted to welcome her first great-grandchild due in August. Mom will be remembered for the many afghans she knitted and crocheted. Mom would whip up an afghan and donate it for a raffle for various causes. If she found out that someone was having a baby they got one of her beautiful baby afghans as a gift. Mom always loving welcomed our friends into our home. She became a second Mom to so many. Mom enjoyed the times spent with her brothers, sisters and their families. Attending family reunions gave her so much joy. Her sisters were especially wonderful to Mom as she battled MS and Alzheimer's. Even at the end of her life her sister Carol would have Mom singing the songs they both loved. Mom lived her life with compassion, grace and dignity; she was an angel on Earth. Mom kept her happy disposition even as Alzheimer's took away her memories. She was known to say she was "fine and dandy" and was always grateful for any kindness shown to her. We have been blessed to be a part of her life. Surely she is dancing in heaven with her loved ones. Mom is survived by her children: Mark Roberts and his son Matthew, Appleton, Wisconsin, Stephen (Eileen) Roberts and their sons Joshua and Aaron, Appleton, Wisconsin, Jeffrey (Dawna) Roberts and their children Sophia and Noah, Eugene, Oregon, Thomas (Laurie) Roberts and their children Angela and John, Merrill, Wisconsin, Jennifer (Mark) Schiefelbein and their sons Nathan (Kelly) and Nicholas, Wausau, Wisconsin, Christine (John) Anderson and their children Jacob and Rachel, Kronenwetter, Wisconsin Katherine (Al) LeBlanc and their children Jessica and Robert, Edgar, Wisconsin, her sister Sr. Carol Stiefvater, Manitowoc, Wisconsin and sister-in-law Veronica Stiefvater, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Brother-in-law Cam Gnader and many nieces and nephews. Mom was preceded in death by her loving parents, her beloved husband Bob, her brother Eugene Stiefvater, her brother Robert Stiefvater Jr. and his wife Edith, her sister Alice O'Brien and her husband Jack and their son Tim, Sister and Brother-in-law Nellie and Bill Ermine, Sister-in-law Jean Gnader, Sister-in-law Edna and her special angel her granddaughter Rachel Rebecca Roberts (daughter of Mark and Kim). We would like to thank Scott, Laurie, Judy and all of the staff at the Allison House for treating our Mom with kindness, dignity and most of all love. Thank you to Ministry Home Hospice for helping us through this difficult time with such compassion. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at The Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Wausau. The Rev. Gregory Michaud will preside. Entombment will be in the Garden of Eternal Rest Mausoleum, Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Friends may call on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until the time of services all at the church. Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Vivian's name. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com Mom rest peacefully, we are minding our manners and saying our prayers.