Roberta Marie Pikey

Roberta was born in Chicago, Illinois to Roman and Harriet Schuessler on June 19, 1935.

She met the love of her life, Donald, while they were members of the Chicago Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. They were married on October 3, 1953. they made their home in Chicago, Illinois where all six of their children were born. They moved to Pekin, Illinois in 1970 where they restored a Victorian home on Walnut St. they both moved to Swallows Nest Farm on Red Shale Rd, both retired and moved to Elgin, Illinois until Don’s death in 2018 when Roberta moved to Fort Worth, Texas.

Roberta worked many years as an executive secretary for various businesses and schools. She worked as a leadership trainer for the Kickapoo Council of Girl Scouts and retired after many years working as a Psychiatric Transcriptionist at Tazwood Mental Health.

Roberta raised rough collie dogs and gaited horses with Don. She was a member of the Catholic Benedictine Order, RCIA instructor, CCD teacher, Liturgy Committee Chair, Secretary of the Lupus Society, past President of the Committee for the Historic Preservation of Pekin and a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pekin, Illinois for 41 years.

Roberta was an artist, poet, farmer, patriot, educator, counselor, adventurer, amazing gardener, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by six children: Michael and wife Myong Son Pikey of Vancouver, Washington, Daniel Pikey of Arlington, Texas, Susan and husband Scott Parnham of Manteca, California, Maureen and husband Terry Kostuik of Sleepy Hollow, Illinois, Lynn and husband Michael Smith of Garland, Texas, Paul and wife Jennifer Pikey of McKinney, Texas; Two brothers, Girard and Thomas Schuessler; One Sister, Susan (Richard) Czerwinski; Seventeen grandchildren, Seventeen great grandchildren, and two great, great grand children.

Memorials can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation, honoring veterans, first responders, and their families. Click here for more information.