Roberta Paquin Obituary

Roberta E. Paquin, age 92, of Marathon, Iowa died July 18, 2025 at the Laurens Care Center in Laurens, Iowa.

Funeral services will be Thursday, July 24, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Marathon Community Center in Marathon. Burial will take place in the Poland Township Cemetery in Marathon. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be directed to First Evangelical Church of Sioux City 401 9th St. Sioux City, Iowa 51101 or Compassion International 12290 Voyager Parkway Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921-3668. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Albert City is in charge of the arrangements.

Roberta Elaine Turnwall was born October 15, 1932 to C. Ernest and Esther (Zeman) Turnwall in Webb, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Webb. Bertie attended school at Garfield Webb Consolidated School, graduating in 1950. She went on to attend the University of Iowa College of Nursing, graduating in 1953 as a registered nurse.

On October 1, 1953, Roberta was united in marriage to Normand A. Paquin at the Webb Methodist Church. They were blessed with three children: Terry, Sherri, and Pam.

Bobbie was extremely caring and generous. While working full-time at Spencer Hospital, she got up each morning to pack lunches for Norm and the girls. She sewed many clothes for her girls and attended their extracurricular events. As her family grew, Bobbie welcomed the new members with homemade quilts and fishing poles, reading and singing to them (sometimes over FaceTime). As they grew older, she traveled by car and plane to their church events; sports, drama, and music competitions; birthday and adoption parties; graduations, weddings, and, of course, welcoming new babies.

Bertie served on the Marathon Library board and helped organize the weekly Marathon Dinner Date. She also led a grief support group. She was active in the Methodist Churches in Webb and Marathon, serving as the chairperson of the memorial committee and was a member of the Night Circle and UMW.

Bobbie enjoyed camping, boating, fishing, and waterskiing with her family. After retiring, she traveled with some of her cousins to Europe, Kenya, Australia, Canada, and the Galapagos Islands.

Roberta is survived by her children: Terry (Lee) Hinders of Sioux City, IA; Sherri (Mark) Morrissey of Urbandale, IA; and Pam (Richard) Smith of St. Johnsbury, VT; her grandchildren: Tom (Tania) Hinders; Tyler (Alex) Hinders; Jamie Hinders; Ben (Audrey) Morrissey; Brandon (Sharon) Morrissey; Kate Morrissey; Hannah, Josh, and Raelyn Smith; her great grandchildren: Piper, Hazel, and Jax Hinders, Cecilia and Olivia Hinders, Brooklyn and Jordan Morrissey, and Zayden Morrissey; her brother: Darryl (Barb) Turnwall, her first cousin Shirley Ohrtman, many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her Aunt Florence Turnwall, her friend Marie Wells and many other relatives and friends.

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