Roberta Alyce Hamdorf

Roberta Alyce Hamdorf, 83, of Hiawatha, Iowa died surrounded by her loving family at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from IPF. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday, January 31 at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, February 1 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, with a luncheon to follow the service. The burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Roberta was born June 24, 1941, at University Hospital in Iowa City. She grew up in Tipton as the fifth of seven children of Maynard and Edna (McAfee) Martin, graduating from Tipton High School in 1959. She married Wesley E. Hamdorf two months later July 19, 1959. They moved to their home in Hiawatha on October 1, 1960, and remained there until her death. Being a wife and mother was the most important role of her life. Her husband and children made that role an awesome experience. She was a Cub Scout leader, Sunday School teacher for 25 years, Sunday School Superintendent, and Campfire Leader. After marriage, Roberta worked at Collins Radio as a secretary and Key Puncher. She left to start their family, and after their second child, she started with a temporary hiring agency which allowed her to work at many different businesses. During those years, she also worked part-time at Kacena Company, Dearborn Brass, and Hansen Accounting. When her youngest was ready for middle school, Roberta started working full-time as City Clerk / Treasurer for the City of Hiawatha. While there, she played an instrumental role in the hyper-growth of Hiawatha's residential, commercial, and industrial development. She later worked in the same position at the city of Ely and it was "Groundhog Day" all over again as another developer bought a large area in Ely for development. Roberta often claimed to be the "luckiest person I know". She had lifelong friends who were right by her side when she needed them. One of her goals in life was to be the kind of friend to others as her friends, Marian Torno, Nancy Gable, and Jan Myers were to her. She also had a constant flow of "New, Best Friends". God held her hand throughout her life and walked the entire journey with her. Sometimes He should have dropped her hand and placed His over her mouth. Her life with Wesley was active, enjoyable, and enriching. They loved their church and the family/congregation of members who made life worth living. They loved to travel and went to a wide variety of "destinations". Wes and Roberta loved to play cards and belonged to groups separately and together. Dancing was very enjoyable for them and that created another life-long stream of friends. Wes was definitely the better dancer and card player, but Roberta was the better communicator. Wesley and Roberta had four children: Kevin (Karla Dennie) Hamdorf, Darcy (Kevin Pauly) Magee, Traci (Steve) Egly, and Karen (Jay) Kreshel. Grandchildren: Conor (Kallie Schmitt), Caitlin and Killian Magee, Spencer (Jill Griminger), Harrisen (Taylor Brown), Emerson, and Audrey Egly (Matthew Schwartz), Creighton (Ashlyn Cook) and Easton Kreshel, Eric (Maranda Simonette) and Ryan (Christy Elliott) Pauly. She was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren: Rosemary, Keira, Madelyn, Grayson, Connor, Sophia, Carlyn, and Maci. Besides her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, she is survived by sisters, Mary Louise Vrooman, Priscilla Highland both of California, and Marilyn Smith of Clinton. She also leaves behind her brother-in-law Bob Friday, sister-in-law Carol Kurth and many wonderful nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Franklin Martin, and her sisters Jean Martin and Hazel Friday. A special thank-you to JoAnne Fox, Chris Weininger, UnityPoint Palliative Care, Mercy Hospice, and her multitude of caregivers. You know who you are, so take credit for being God's liaison. Memorials may be made to APOH (A Promise of Health), PO Box 247, Hiawatha, IA 52233. Please leave an online condolence for the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.