Sun Prairie—
Roberta “Bert” C. Zaruba, age 78, passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at Hyland Crossing in Sun Prairie. She was born on June 1, 1946 in Hancock, MI and was the daughter of Robert and Jeanette (Errard) Kautzer. She married Gerald Zaruba on August 26, 1967 at St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church in Westport.
Bert worked for over 20 years at Conrad’s Sentry Foods in Sun Prairie. She also taught ceramics at the Colonial Club. Bert was very involved in crafts, baking, cookbooks and jewelry. She enjoyed visits from her grandchildren. She enjoyed thrift shopping, garage sales, and QVC shopping as her mobility became more difficult and never turned down her favorites- Anna’s Pizza and Pepsi. One of her proudest accomplishments was being a 16 year stem cell transplant survivor for treatment of multiple myeloma.
She is survived by: her husband Gerald; daughters Carrie (Todd) Weinberger, Laurie (Jeff) Stieren; grandchildren, Brianna (Zac) Hurley, Kayla (Eric) Dean, Sydney (Kale Grossman) Weinberger, Amber (Trey Shaw) Stieren, Austin (Courtney Normington) Stieren, Janice (Don) Halverson and Justin Stieren; seven great-grandchildren, with one on the way; a brother Richard Kautzer; and her feline fur buddy, Snickers.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Hearts Catholic Church, 229 Columbus St.in Sun Prairie on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, with Father William Vernon presiding. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 12, from 5 to 7p.m. at Tuschen-Newcomer Funeral Home, 302 Columbus St. and at 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be at Sacred Hearts Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Dr. Natalie Callander of the UW Carbone Cancer Center, and Dr. Danielle Gindlesberger (“Dr. G”) of SSM Health Dean Medical Group and their staff for their expert and compassionate care over the years; as well as everyone at Hyland Crossings and Agrace Hospice for Bert’s more recent care.
Bert’s daughters would like to especially acknowledge their dad Gerry, for all of his wonderful, selfless, and loving care, that enabled their mom to be able to stay at home up until this last month.