Richard (Poppy) A. Roberts Jr., 48
Published 9:32 am Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Richard A. Roberts, 48, died Jan. 16, at his home in Muskegon, Mich., from complications of diabetes.
Rich was born March 29, 1962, in Idaho. He grew up in the Austin and Brownsdale area and attended schools in Austin and Hayfield. He lived his adult life in Minnesota for a few years, then moved to Arizona and made his home and later raised his family in Michigan.
Rich’s passion was his family, along with riding and working on Harley motorcycles. When he lived in Arizona he had a store that featured Harley items and owned a biker newspaper called the Outsider Biker Gazette. When he moved to Michigan, he repaired and customized bikes. Rick never missed a chance to tease his Dad about riding a “rice burner.”
He is survived by his wife Brenda; two daughters Jodie Carson and Danielle Thompson; son, Richard Voorhees; three grandsons, Kevin, Adrian and Jordan, all of Michigan. His step-mother from Austin, Jan Roberts-Valek (Glenn); three sisters Christine Garness (Chad), Hayfield; Lisa Samudio (Pedro Benitez), Albert Lea; Karen Diaz (Chuck Valek), Lyle; brother, Jimmy Dean Hultgren (Melissa), St. Ansgar; sister-in-law, Amy Pinkava-Hultgren; several nieces and nephews and an extended family of kids for whom he was and always will be “Poppy”.
He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Roberts Sr.; mother, Wannetta Roberts; brother Kevin Hultgren; and his grandparents.
According to his wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral. His family will gather for a celebration of his life.
Phoenix Crematory Services of Muskegon, Mich. is handling other arrangements.