Ronald Eugene Roberson, 67, of Rockford, died at peace on August 9, 2021, at SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford, Illinois from life-long complications of Type I Diabetes. He was born on December 10, 1953 in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. Ron was the oldest of the six siblings of Henry and Loretta (Welsh) Roberson. This included four brothers and a sister. Ron had a special spot in his heart for his sister and was always especially proud of her. Ron spent his early childhood in Boscobel, Wisconsin and attended Immaculate Conception school where he served as an altar boy for the church.

After he developed Type I Diabetes as an adolescent, Ron became a strong self-care advocate and was always willing to help others manage their health.

Ron was a devoted son who enjoyed showing up with carefully selected gifts on Christmas and other special occasions. He felt the loss of his mother, five years ago, so deeply that there is no doubt this loss hastened his already declining health. He was a dutiful husband, kind and encouraging brother, generous and loyal friend, supportive co-worker and most of all, a loving and generous father to his son and later daughter-in-law. He always cherished the times he spent with Aaron participating in school, sport and vacation activities and could always be counted on to help-out in any way necessary. Aaron was the pride of his Ron's life.

Ron embraced life to the fullest and was always searching. This led him to have a wide variety of interests throughout his life. He was a staunch proponent of justice, an activist and above all a peace advocate. Ron's personality led to him have a unique relationship with every person he knew. To know Ron was to have the opportunity to learn the values of patience, encouragement, compassion, tolerance, competing to your fullest and above all, forgiveness.

Ron graduated from Rockford East High School, class of 1971. He displayed an aptitude for mathematics and statistics and was a member of the tennis, cross country and baseball teams. On the pitcher's mound, he had a quick diving curve ball that kept batters swinging at pitches in the dirt. On one sunny afternoon on his home field, Ron threw a complete game no-hitter for his JV squad. Ron went on to pitch a season in semi-professional baseball. He remained physically active for the majority of his adult years as a jogger, worthy tennis opponent and a member of various softball and bowling teams.

Ron was a sports fan and enjoyed attending Cubs, Sox and Brewers games (especially when the Yankees were in town) with his brothers. He was a Yankee fan dating back to the time of Roger Marris (he wore out the record of his that came on the back of the Post Toasties cereal box) and above all was an avid Packer fan, already a loyal follower well before the Ice Bowl was even played.

Ron enjoyed the outdoors, camping, gardening and tending to his animals. He was compassionate about raising and training dogs, especially his Rottweilers, who were his admired companions. He always took joy in taking his dogs to remote areas of parks and letting them run free.

Ron was a music aficionado, especially pertaining to rock 'n roll. Music meant the world to him and he took great solace in lyrics like these opening lines of Kashmir by his favorite band "The Mighty Zep."

Oh let the sun beat down upon my face
And stars fill my dream
I'm a traveler of both time and space
To be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gently race
This world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait
All will be revealed.

Ron enjoyed sharing music with others. Early on, this meant turning his transistor radio speaker your way as he invited you to hear the first airing of the Immigrant Song on WLS and later by dropping the needle on the newest album of the day that he wanted you to hear. He always had one the best home, studio quality, stereo systems around and maintained a deep and varied collection of albums. While not confirmed by the Guinness World Records people, it is believed that Ron attended the most concerts of any person known. He could describe the concerts he attended in a way that made you feel like you were there sitting right next to him. And for many who knew Ron, at one time or another, we had.

Ron was a hard-working, dedicated employee at Rockford Forgings & Stampings, Inc. in Rockford where he retired after 33 years of very physically demanding work. He was Shop Foreman and a proud American Union Steward.

Ron is survived by his son; Aaron (Anna) Roberson and Aaron's mother, Sherry Koch; siblings, Rick (Sally Fricke) Roberson, Randy (Sue Hazlewood-Roberson) Roberson, Rosalynn (Bruce) Keirn, Reginald Roberson; nieces and nephews, Brooke (Rick) Barker, Joshua (Amber) Roberson, Kaila (Scott) Strubhart, Sarah (Justin) Johnson, Leah (Jacob Bradt) Keirn, Brittany Roberson; several great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins; special friends, John Koch, Sheila Tracy; and pets, Argus, Bailey, Obsidian and Kiki.

"Ronnie", as they called him, never forgot the special relationship he had with his Uncle Bob and Aunt Alice Connely and "sisters" Phyllis and Lorraine as a young boy growing up in Boscobel.

Preceded in death by his parents, brother, Rodney Roberson, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and numerous special pets.

Due this health challenges, Ron kept close to home over the past several years but wanted his family and friends to know that he loved them, missed them and appreciated them thinking of him when he could no longer join in get togethers. Ron's most disappointing aspects of his declining health was his inability to be physically active or attend family gatherings.

Ron was extremely fortunate to have Aaron and Anna as family care takers. They were with him to intervene in countless crisis episodes by providing care, helping him through the event or calling for the assistance he needed. The family extends our deep appreciation to all the emergency responders, doctors and medical staff for care they provided to Ron over the past several years.

An open house and celebration of Ron's life will be held on August 21, 2021 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at his brother's home, 7520 Larwinn Dr.; Rockford. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Ron's memory may be made to the family. Grace Funeral & Cremation Services assisted the family. Share a memory or condolence at www.graceFH.com