Therese J Roberts

Therese J. Duprey Flanagan Roberts, age 96, passed away on 05/14/2025 at the St. Paul Villa in Kaukauna.

Tess was born on 8/14/1928, in Kaukauna, Wl, daughter of the late George J. and Martha (Seiberlich) Duprey. She married Patrick G. Flanagan on 1/23/1952, and they lived in San Diego and Oceanside, California; Menasha, Kimberly and Chilton, Wisconsin during their 27 years of marriage before his death on 9/23/1979.

Tess then moved back to Kaukauna when she married Thomas A. Roberts on 10/18/1980. Tom passed on 12/28/2016.

Tess is survived by her daughters, their husbands and families: Mary Katherine (Tom) Bednarowski, River Falls, WI; Maureen (Dr. Richard) Johnson, Appleton, WI; Margaret Flanagan, Vancouver, WA; Eileen (Jonathan) Doughty, Vienna, VA; nine grandchildren: Mollie, Erin; Jasmine, Julia, Ross; Harrison, Grant; Eleanor, Theo; and six great grandchildren.

Also surviving are six children of Tom Roberts and their families: Ann (Steve) McDaniel, Kaukauna; Robin (Steve) Schmidt, Kaukauna; Patricia (Kevin) Diamond, Chicago; William (Brenda) Roberts, Kaukauna; Thomas John (Tammy) Roberts, Kaukauna; Kevin (Catrina) Roberts, Shawano; fifteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.

Tess was preceded in death by her sister, Mariann (Casimir) Casper, Waupun; her brother Ralph (Bonnie) Duprey, Kaukauna; and sisters- and brothers-in-law David (Patricia Baisch) Flanagan, Kaukauna; Betty Flanagan, Kimberly; John "Jack" Flanagan, Racine; Joan (Wilfred) Licht, Margaret Ann (Howard) Wright, and Mary Alice (John) Moore.

You know this is going to be long, because Tess lived an interesting life. Tess's story was how she shared her love and talents with her hands. She took piano lessons from a very young age and used this talent for many years playing piano during her years at Kaukauna High School and transferring it over to the church organ where she played and directed the choir. While in Chilton, she was recruited to play the glockenspiel for the Chilton City Marching Band. She accompanied the Chilton High School band on piano for school plays and individual music competitions.

Tess took typing in high school where she excelled. Eventually she became a secretary at Thilmany Paper Mill, George Banta Publishing, Westside School in Kimberly and the Calumet County Veteran's Administration.

She learned to sew and knit, and through quilting met wonderful women who would become great friends. When the Roberts' landmark 100-year-old-plus home burned down, those friends took her enormous quilt fabric stash to their homes to wash out the smoke. Tess made countless quilts and clothing articles for family and friends and also donated many. Her girls had matching outfits, homemade nightgowns and Barbie doll clothing still used today by her great grand-children. She even took a tailoring class and made Pat a wonderful sports coat.

Tess also had a great love of reading, devouring many books every week. She served on the Kaukauna library board for many years. She served on the parish council at some of the churches she attended. She was also a wonderful and adventurous cook serving up flaming desserts, fancy meats on skewers, all the while looking great in her lovely period hostess outfits. Her husband Pat worked long hours but she made sure the girls had fun, taking them on trips, riding around town and going places in their red convertible Corvair.

After Pat's funeral, Tom Roberts brought her news of the press box he and others worked on which honored Kaukauna athletes. Pat Flanagan was one of them. Tom said he would take her to see it. A love grew between them. Within a year they were married. Tom and Tess lived for many years at his childhood home on Wisconsin Avenue and built a new home there when the beautiful old Queen Anne style home burned down from an electrical fire. Tom and Tess had many years of travel and then settled back to entertaining on their front porch where it was said "what happens on the porch stays on the porch". Tess's last years were spent at the St. Paul Villa where she received wonderful care. She enjoyed sitting out on the Villa porch with residents and friends, and working on jigsaw puzzles.

Her family wishes to thank the wonderful caretakers at St. Paul Villa, dear friends Keith and Linda Petersen, nurse Tracy and others from Compassus Hospice Service, Dr. Jennifer Schoening of the Kaukauna Clinic, Pam VanDera, Brian Roebke from Times Villager, Jan Stanelle of the Bank of Kaukauna, Sister Delores, Amanda Hipp from Wichmann Funeral Home and all those who shared laughter and libation on the porch.

According to Tess's wishes there will not be a funeral service. She will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Kaukauna. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to the Friends of the Kaukauna Public Library in her honor. https://us.commitchange.com/nonprofits/5786/donate