Marvin Roberts

Marvin William Roberts, age 96 of Hudson, passed away on February 14, 2024 at Hammond Health Services, with family by his side.

Marvin, the youngest of six children, was born on April 18, 1927 in Hammond, WI, to Dan and Gwen (Jones) Roberts, a 100% Welsh family. His father died when he was 8, and he worked on the farm with his older brothers and attended the one-room schoolhouse 2 miles from his home.

Marvin met Marilyn at a dance at Glenwood City in a circle two- step. Her last name was Kringle, and she told him her name was Chris Kringle. The next day he found out where she lived and drove up her driveway in his convertible and took her for a ride.

In 1950, he was drafted into the army for the Korean War. With only two weeks to report – Marilyn and he decided to get married. They drove to the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa with another couple – had five flat tires on the way and got married on Sept 9, 1950. They had a wedding dance at the Hammond Hall.

Marvin studied radio code at Camp Gordon and Camp Pickett and became part of Communications Reconnaissance Company, stationed in Germany near the Russian border to monitor Russian radio. (From 1998 – 2018 these army buddies had a yearly reunion.) Before he shipped out, their first daughter, Christy was born.

After the army, they moved to Osceola. Marvin worked for Stockers as an electrician. Another daughter, Debby, was born.

Around 1961, he and a partner formed Northern Electricians in St Croix Falls and bid commercial projects, later adding an electrical supply company. He also built and ran RoBo village, a mobile home park in Osceola. He sold out his share of the electrical business in 1975 and went on to build the Taylor Place Motel, in Taylors Falls, with another building in town housing a beauty shop, gift shop and ice cream parlor. During this time, he had designed a ten-sided house that he built on Deer Lake, where they lived for 20 years.

By the mid-80’s, with most of the businesses sold, winters were spent in Phoenix, AZ. He now concentrated on his hobby of restoring cars and showing them at car shows. He had a roomful of trophies and a great group of car buddies.

Around 2000, he built a home in Hudson, to be by family, where he lived until a few days before his death.

Marvin was a man of endless energy. He was passionate about life and family. He worked hard yet always had time for fun with family and friends. He loved a challenge – could fix, invent or design anything and was always available to help when needed. He was devoted to his wife Marilyn – they had a wonderful life together.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Dan and Gwen Roberts; siblings Kenneth, Catherine, John, Elwyn and Elwyn’s twin who died at birth; and son-in-law Rick Seymour.

He will remain in the hearts of his wife of 73 years, Marilyn; daughters Debby (Rick) Seymour and Christy Roberts; grandchildren Judy Walter, Jessica (Dane) Jensen, Chris (Stacey) Frautschi, Dylan (Tristane) Frautschi; great grandchildren Cameron, Gavin, Ty, Scarlet, Olivia and Ella; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews and their families, car buddies, neighbors, and friends.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 Friday, March 8, 2024, with a memorial service at 3:30 at O’Connell Funeral Home in Hudson. Burial will be held at a later date at the Hammond Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the family.