Mount Pleasant – Roberta Adele (nee: Muench) Samz, 79, passed away peacefully at Parkside Manor Memory Care in Kenosha surrounded by her loving family on January 25, 2026, after a courageous several year battle with dementia.

Roberta (also known as Bobbie and Berta) was born in Crystal Falls MI on December 5th, 1946, daughter of Robert and Arline (nee: Taff) Muench. She grew up in Florence WI with her loving parents and four siblings who she loved dearly and had so many good memories which became the model for how she wanted to raise her family. In 1965, she graduated from Florence High School as salutatorian, prom queen, and outstanding student. After high school, she bravely left her small town and attended Spencerian Business College in Milwaukee WI. Roberta worked as a secretary at The Gute Company, Milwaukee WI for one year before returning to Florence to be married. On July 29, 1967, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Florence WI, Roberta was united in marriage to the love of her life and soul mate, Lawrence Anthony Samz. They made their home in Crandon WI before moving to Racine WI in January 1969 where they have resided ever since.

Roberta devoted her early years to being a loving homemaker and babysitter for the Lakatos and Herrick families, treating those children as her own and often referred to as their second Mom. Once her children grew older, she returned to the workforce—first as a part‑time office and library assistant at different schools within Racine Unified School District, and later as a full‑time Administrative Assistant in RD&E at S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. She retired in December 2001, embracing the role she cherished most: helping care for her grandchildren. Retirement suited her perfectly, giving her the time to embrace the homebody she was at heart and to devote even more of her time, love, and energy to her children and grandchildren, who were her greatest joy. During these years, she taught her granddaughter how to sew, gave each grandchild piano lessons, and was always happy to teach and play endless games with them like Racko, steal the pack, solitaire, scrabble, apples to apples and dominoes. She lovingly crafted Halloween costumes every year—treasured creations now being passed down to her great‑grandchildren.

Throughout her children's school years, Roberta was a dedicated volunteer, active in PTAs and school fundraising efforts. Her faith and community were also central to her life. As a longtime member of St. Paul's and St. Richard's of Chichester Catholic Churches, she contributed her time and talents to the Religious Education, Library, and Human Concerns committees. Her faith in God was unwavering–she attended church every Sunday, read her Living Faith every day and prayed for her family continuously.

When not spending time with family, Roberta loved nothing more than settling in with a good book, golfing, bowling, shopping, or filling the house with music from the piano she played so beautifully. Her house is full of the many bird houses, Hummels, bells, and snowman she loved to collect. A meticulous list maker and master planner, Roberta was the family's trusted organizer—an amazing typist, coordinator of every gathering, and the one who kept everyone on track. She was a compassionate and loving caregiver in anyone's time of need especially for her husband Lawrence and his many surgeries over the years. Roberta and Lawrence were amazing dancers and lit up the dance floor polkaing and waltzing while others watched with awe as they moved so well as one with such joy. She was the best baker, famous for her deviled eggs, scotcheroos, jellos, lime pie, chocolate chip cookies, and strawberry shortcake. Roberta loved her sweets—keeping them in her famous candy and gum drawer that was no secret to anyone who visited and always made sure the cupboards were fully stocked with her favorite cookie, Pinwheels. She also loved to watch and cheer for the Packers, Brewers, and Bucks with her family.

Although she was not an extensive traveler being a home body and afflicted with motion sickness, Roberta treasured the special trips she did take. Her first trip to California was in 1975 with her family to visit her sister's family and Disneyland. Many years later she would again travel several times to California to visit her son who had relocated there and go on adventures to Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks with the family and attend her son's wedding. She also bravely insisted on taking the long journey to Hong Kong with all of the family for her son and daughter in law's wedding there so she could meet her family and learn and see the culture that she was always so supportive of and enjoyed. Some of her happiest days, however, were much closer to home: the cherished summers spent with family in northern Wisconsin, a tradition that filled her heart year after year.

Roberta had a heart of pure gold—steadfast, generous, and always putting family first. Her family often said she made them better people—through her love, her actions, and the way she believed in them so completely. She showed up for everything for her children and grandchildren: every concert, every sports game, every milestone, and every moment that mattered. Fiercely protective and endlessly supportive, she loved her children and grandchildren with a depth that shaped their lives—standing by them always, seeing only their brightest qualities, and believing in them with her whole heart. Beginning the tradition when her kids walked to grade school, Roberta always stood in the window waving goodbye until they could no longer see her and continued that until the end— always standing at the door at their house waving goodbye with a smile to whoever had come to visit. We know she is up in heaven waving to us now with love. Roberta always knew it was these little loving gestures that were most important in our lives.

Roberta was the beloved wife of her husband for 58 years; loving mother of her daughter, Laura Ann (William) Fell of Racine and son, Keith Francis (Pandora) Samz of Racine; proud grandma of her cherished grandchildren, Madeline Rose (Nate) Smith, Jacob Lawrence Fell and fiancée, Sarah Holst, Mason Moto Samz, Colson Francis Samz, and Bryson Jade Samz; her sweet great-grandchildren, Cameron William Smith and Lillian Ann Smith. She also dearly loved her grand dogs, Colt, Teddy and Goose and grand cat, Omelette who she always had a treat for and was willing to help take care of when needed.

She is further survived by three sisters, Sharon Forge of Eden WI, Barbara (Vince) Nagy of Janesville WI, and Marcia (Rodger) Melin of Florida; and one brother, Roger (Fritzee) Muench of Seymour WI; many sisters- and brothers-in-law, Mark Bushman, MaryAnn Wilson, Phil Sherman, Sr. Marguerite Samz, OSM, Loretta Weyers, John and Alice Weyers , John and Barbara Samz, Dick and Julie Kasten, Ann McIntyre, Todd and Becky Toburen, Mike and Pat Samz, Nick and Bobbi Samz, Terry and Sue Samz, Greg and Jenny Weber, Jaime and Nan Samz, Ben and Terri Samz, and Rick and Lottie Samz; goddaughters Suzanne Forge, Marlo Fox and Amy Nagy, and many other special nieces, nephews, relatives and dear friends.

Roberta is preceded in death by her parents, Arline and Robert Muench, her father- and mother- in- law, Clara and John Samz; brothers-and sisters in-laws Robert Forge, Barbara Bushman, Bert Wilson, Joanie Sherman, Clara Yaeger, Dick and Jackie Bauknecht, Jim Weyers, Cathy Cochrane, Francis Samz, and Martin Samz; special niece, Erin Melin, special nephew and godson Johnny Forge, grand pets Tanner, Reba, Shadow and Tigger and many other dear nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

The family wishes to thank all the doctors, staff and caregivers at Ascension, St. Croix Hospice and Parkside Manor, especially Dr. Pierce-Ruhland, Dr. Braun, Dr. Bake, Ceileta, Breanna, Beth, Emily, Kelce, Nora, Eloy, and countless other doctors and special caregivers for their compassionate care at the end of her dementia journey.

Family and friends are invited to meet with the family at the visitation held on Friday, February 13 ^th from 4 to 6 pm at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Richard of Chichester Catholic Church by Father Juan Camacho on Saturday, February 14 ^th at 11am with a visitation preceding the Mass from 10-10:45 am.

Memorials may be made to St. Richard's Parish or the Alzheimer's Association.  If you'd like to have a tree planted in Bobbie's memory, you may click on this link. https://shop.alivingtribute.org/

Service Details

Family and friends are invited to meet with the family at the visitation held on Friday, February 13 ^th from 4 to 6 pm at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home.

Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Richard of Chichester Catholic Church by Father Juan Camacho on Saturday, February 14 ^th at 11am with a visitation preceding the Mass from 10-10:45 am.

For those wishing to watch the Mass via livestream, you may click on this link at 11:00 AM https://www.youtube.com/live/mNx3g8EgLvo?si=AvPmyeZh9lCR41BP