Kay “Katie” (Eaton) Roberts, 84, of Sioux City passed away peacefully on March 9, 2022 at her home after a year of wonderful Hospice care. Katie donated her body to the University of South Dakota Medical School for research. Per her wishes, no funeral services will be held but at a later date a party will be held in her honor to celebrate her amazing life.

Katie moved with her family from Wisconsin to Sioux City on January 1, 1950. They settled into the Crescent Park area of town. Katie and her older brother, Tom, found a wonderful group of kids their age. She attended North Jr. High and graduated from Central High School in 1955.

She met George Roberts when he returned home from his Navy tour. They married on April 2, 1956 at Crescent Park United Methodist Church. They loved children and planned to have six, and, if they liked them they would have six more. To accomplish their plan they had three children, raised Katie’s sister, Jill, from the age of 4, adopted five children and raised many foster children. George passed away on November 22, 1985.

Katie continued to welcome children “in need of a mother” into her home and helped several children through college. Katie and her son, Paul, were foster parents to many teenage boys for more than 20 years until the untimely death of Paul in 2010. Katie then began working with the men of Henry Muller Hall who had issues with addiction and mental health.

She loved her church family and spent many years working within the church. She was especially proud of teaching the adult Sunday School class “The Fellowship of the Bruised Camels!” She kept in contact with her friends and family through letters and cards that she loved sending out. She loved sharing stories, inspirational sayings, special Bible verses, good books, encouraging kindness, giving hugs and loving others.

Survivors left to spread kindness include her children Kimberlee and Randy Gerritsen of Holstein, Wendy and Randy Livings of Sioux City, Jill Hansen of Clovis, CA, Clayton Roberts, David and Missy Roberts of Sioux City, Jesse and Kristina Gaul of Sioux Falls, Fred Key, Heidi Headley, Steven and Stacey Evans of Kansas City, Vera Schneider of Sioux City along with many foster and honorary children; siblings Jerry and Aggie Eaton of Sioux City, Marianne Eaton of Albuquerque, NM, Marcella (Peg) Roberts, Peggy Roberts, Sally Smith, Dorothy and Harold Lockmiller all of Sioux City, and Jim and Sharon Roberts of Ankeny; grandchildren Jeremy and Anne Gerritsen, Torre and Sydney Gerritsen, Kiley and Jenny Gerritsen, Maude and Brian Morris, Richard and Christelle Livings, Robert Livings, Blake Steadham, Caelin (Bubba) Schrank, Taiyler (Miss Tator) Schrank, Aria (Chickapea) Roberts and many honorary grandchildren; great-grandchildren Drew and Katie Gerritsen, Gryffin and Remy Gerritsen, Vaughn Gerritsen, Rylan and Iona Morris, and Rousseau and Nadege Livings; and many marvelous nieces, nephews and close friends. Katie and her family developed a very close bond with her team from Hospice of Siouxland and would like to thank them for their care and compassion during her journey with special thanks to LaNette, Tyler, Kayla, Kristi, Denise, Rene, Jane and many others.

Katie’s final request to everyone is that if you see someone who is in need of a friend please take a minute and give them a hug! And finally, from the book that took Katie by storm “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” by Charlie Mackery: “Always remember you matter, you’re important and you are loved, and you bring to this world things no one else can.”