The Lord has welcomed home His good and faithful servant, Reverend Donald Lee Roberts, who left this earthly home the morning of Thursday, October 19, 2023. He was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Reverend Roberts was born November 20, 1929 in Bay City, Michigan, the son of Loris and Ruth (Myers) Roberts. He married Eleanor Muriel Stickel at the Gladwin Assembly of God church August 14, 1954. They were married for 69 wonderful years until the time of his passing. Don was a lifelong outdoorsman who loved fishing, especially for brook trout, and his time away from the pulpit was often happily spent in some remote, creekside, mosquito-infested thicket catching his next supper.
Reverend Roberts graduated from Gladwin High School in 1948 and from Eastern Bible Institute (Green Lane, Pennsylvania) in 1953. He pastored several Assembly of God congregations in Michigan over the years including those in Roscommon, Reed City, Harrison, Holland, Clare, St. Louis, Grayling and Gladwin. The congregations in Reed City and Clare erected new sanctuaries during his tenures with them. His ministry included managing Lost Valley Bible Camp in Gaylord for three summers, and for several years he conducted revival meetings and filled in for pastors who needed to be away from their pulpits. He preached in countless churches during his lifetime of service to the Lord, and he served as Presbyter for the northern Michigan district for a number of years as well. Pastor Roberts was honored in 2006 by the Michigan District of the Assemblies of God for his 50th anniversary as an ordained minister.
Reverend Roberts was preceded in death by his parents, Loris and Ruth Roberts, an infant brother, John, and his daughter, Sheryl Jeannine Roberts Brown. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor, his son, Mark, family friend Steven Kucharek, five grandchildren, Anna and Mike Howe, Nicholas and Hannah Brown, Caitlin and Michael Short, Alexander and Sreymao Brown and Spenser Brown, five great-grandchildren, Elsie, Nora, Landon, Reagan and Everly, and son-in-law, Clayton Brown.
Funeral Services will be conducted by Pastor Brad Withrow on Friday, October 27, 2023, 1:00 P.M. at the Gladwin Assembly of God Church. Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. until the time of services. He will be laid to rest at Highland Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made according to the Gladwin Assembly of God Church or the Midland Senior Services of Gladwin County. Arrangments are in the care of Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home. www.hall-kokotovichfuneralhome.com
