Roberta June Dekesel (Denham)

Roberta June DeKesel, 87, Overland Park, KS, formerly of Independence, MO, passed away Jan. 31, 2015. Services will be 2 pm, Thursday, Feb. 5 at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St., Independence, MO 64055. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Pleasant View Christian Church. Roberta was born Aug. 12, 1927 in Independence, MO and was a lifelong resident of the area. She graduated from William Chrisman High School in the class of 1944. She was a charter member and elder of Pleasant View Christian Church; past president and charter member of Auxiliary of Medical Center of Independence; past president and lifetime member of the Women’s Cooperative Guild of Farmland Industries; treasurer and member of Tri-County Art League; treasurer and member of American Legion Auxiliary Post 21; volunteer of Kaleidoscope; substitute driver for Meals on Wheels; and project leader with 4-H Club. Her passion was arts and crafts of many varieties and she was a huge fan of the KC Royals and Chiefs. Roberta was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Hugh DeKesel; daughters, Diann (DeKesel) Cooper and Denise (DeKesel) Doherty; and brothers Clarence Denham, Jr., Roy Denham and Charles Denham. She is survived by daughter Donna (DeKesel) LaMetterey, Tampa, FL; adopted son CPT. (ret.) Jerry Youngblood, Independence, MO; sisters Rosebud (Denham) Gard and Helen (Denham) Wood both of Independence, MO; thirteen grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.