Philip Dale Roberts (2021)

ANDREWS, AVERILL, BAKER, BARDOLE, BRADLEY, BURKETT, FRY, DILLAVOU, DORMAN, HOLZ, LINN, MORTON, RINEHART, ROBERTS, ROONEY, TORRESON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 11/7/2021 at 17:52:25

Hastings Funeral Home, Perry, Iowa

Philip Dale Roberts

Philip Dale Roberts, son of Dale Theodore and Verna Leone (Andrews) Roberts was born on April 28, 1939 at home in Union Township, Boone County and passed away surrounded by family on October 28, 2021 in Perry, Iowa at Eden Acres Campus at the age of 82 of pulmonary fibrosis.

At a very early age, he would follow his dad around asking, “What are you going to do now, Dad?” Like many farm kids, he had chores at an early age including driving the tractor at age five while his dad picked up hay bales. Although it was often hard work, he had good memories of his life growing up on a farm. The family would later move to a farm a half mile away where Phil lived nearly all his life. He attended Rippey Consolidated School until he graduated in 1957. He played baritone and participated in choir throughout his high school years. Music continued to be a very important part of his life. His classmates remained good friends throughout his life with many reunions and they enjoyed reminiscing about the many shenanigans that they got into. Yet, all those years later, while retelling stories to his children and grandchildren, he remained loyal and refused to ‘snitch’ on his friends.

He enlisted in the Army National Guard in Perry during his senior year. He served nine years and was honorably discharged in June 1967. Following graduation and a short stint working in Des Moines, he achieved his lifelong dream of returning to Rippey to farm with his Dad until Dale’s health forced him to retire. Phil continued to farm for the next 40+ years.

One December night in 1962, he attended a party with some friends where he met Toni Averill, the girl who would later become his wife, when she sat on his lap. Philip and Toni were married on August 16, 1964 and lived on the same acreage as his parents in a mobile home. They were the parents of four children, Christopher, Lori, Matthew, and Wendolyn. Later, when Dale and Verna retired to Perry, Philip and Toni moved into the new farm home his parents had built. As the kids grew up, he taught them to drive, how to care for livestock, how to milk goats, how to drive tractors, and do field work such as discing. As a family, they enjoyed camping together and went on numerous family vacations.

In 1970, Phil and two friends built and took turns driving a stock car on surrounding race tracks. He later attended races at the Kansas Speedway to cheer on his favorite driver, Jeff Gordon. One of his favorite moments there was doing a “Ride Along.” Another favorite hobby was bowling, where he was a member of three separate leagues in his early adulthood.

Phil served as Director of the Rippey Co-op Board for nine years, served on the Greene County Lamb Producers board, was a 4-H leader for the Washington Winners, a member of the Rippey Lion's Club, and a member of the “Friends of Rippey.”

Phil loved animals. He had several beloved pets including his favorite, a blue heeler, Calamity, who followed him everywhere and the many orphan kittens he rescued that became indoor pets. He worked hard at raising sheep, enhancing the breeding stock each year. He thoroughly enjoyed watching all of his children show sheep at the county and state level but watched with particular pride when Wendy won Grand Champion Market Lamb at the Greene County Fair in 1993, showing the fruits of the family’s labor over the years.

He was a lifetime member of the Rippey United Methodist church. Phil and Toni sang in the church choir for 50+ years and were charter members of Margaret’s adult Sunday School class. Phil attended his children’s and many grandchildren’s activities. Phil and Toni really enjoyed attending Hawkeye football games while watching Wendy play in the Iowa Marching Band, including traveling to two bowl games. He was so proud when Wendy graduated from Iowa, and later when granddaughter, Lindsay, did also.

In 1999, Phil retired from farming, bought his own semi, and became an over-the-road truck driver for Smithway. Toni accompanied him, and together they traveled to more than 20 states hauling many different loads. They always tried to be home during the weekends so he could still sing tenor in the church choir.

Phil was a listener, he often said, “You don’t learn anything if you’re always talking.” He was often quiet, but always kind and supportive with a dry sense of humor. He enjoyed his many friends in Lion’s Club and the “Tuesday coffee group.” He also made the best potato soup, which won the library soup contest and was known for his Thanksgiving mashed potatoes, which he traditionally made with Lori each year.

He was predeceased by his parents, Dale Theodore and Verna Leone Roberts (Andrews); his brother Gail; his parents-in-law, James and Doris Averill; and his siblings-in-law, Jim Averill, Joyce and Ron Macek.

He is survived by his wife Toni Averill; his children, Christopher, Wendolyn, Chris Roberts (Brenda) of Rippey, Lori Bardole (Tim) of Rippey, Matt Roberts (Sara) of Boone and Wendy Burkett (Tony) of Winterset; his wife Toni; his grandchildren, Lindsay Rinehart (Randy) of Bettendorf, Sarah Bradley (Corey) of Winterset, Geoffrey Roberts of Rippey, Karen Rooney (Gregg) of Churdan, Cassandra Bardole of Rippey, Schyler Bardole (Lauren) of Churdan, Quill Bardole of Jefferson, Mallory Dillavou of Lohrville, Morgan Torreson (Steven) of Graettinger, Marshall Roberts of Rippey, Jenna Morton of Boone, Josephine, Addie and Lillian Burkett of Winterset; his sisters, Claudette Fry (Paul Baker) of Santa Ana, CA, Charlene Dorman (Gene) of Perry and Elaine Holz (John) of Colorado Springs, CO; his aunts, Kathleen Linn of Rippey and Simone Andrews of Pleasant Hill; and his sister-in-law Veronica Averill of Fort Dodge. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Visitation was held on Wednesday, November 3rd 2021 from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Hastings Funeral Home - Perry (1417 2nd St, Perry, IA 50220). A funeral service was held on Thursday, November 4th 2021 at 2:30 PM at the Rippey United Methodist Church.