Bruce Roberts

Bruce Roberts, 85 of Madison, WI passed away January 29, 2022, due to complications from Alzheimer’s and colon cancer.

Bruce was born on July 8, 1936 in Washington D.C. to Mark Roberts and Ruth (Nelson) Roberts.  His family, including his sister, Elaine (Roberts) Kosier, moved to Wisconsin when he was a child.  He absolutely loved all of his aunts, uncles, and cousins who got together on Sundays at the Roberts farm near Brooklyn, WI.  All of his life, Bruce fondly recalled memories and entertained others with his humorous and animated stories of times at the farm with his family.

He graduated from East High School in 1955.  Bruce’s love for education was furthered by obtaining a degree in geophysics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1960.  He worked in the oil fields in Laramie, WY for a year, and then returned to Madison and earned his Master’s in Business/Accounting in 1962.  After graduating, Bruce worked for Arthur Andersen in Milwaukee and Chicago and Ronald Maddox in Madison.  During this time, he married Sara (Gohdes) Roberts in Edgar, Wisconsin.  They have two daughters; Ann (Roberts) Cary and Lynn (Roberts) Sedivy.  In 1968, Bruce got a job teaching accounting at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater while concurrently pursuing a PhD at UW-Madison.  He returned to his career in accounting by obtaining employment at Rural Insurance and relocated his family to Madison.  Later he co-founded Fitzpatrick and Roberts Certified Public Accounting firm.

Bruce and Sara divorced in 1978.  Later, Bruce met and married Chris (Anderson) Roberts.  Together they raised their four children, Ann, Lynn, Dave (Kissinger) and Sara (Kissinger) Calhoun as one family.  Bruce’s accounting firm grew in success over the years, and he worked long hours, especially during tax season.  Upon retirement, true to his hard working ethic, he obtained a position at Edgewood College, teaching courses in accounting.  His boisterous and social personality, which often seemed like an anomaly in the accounting field, served him well in teaching, earning him a student nominated teacher of the year award at Edgewood.  He adored his students and loved learning about and interacting with them.

Bruce had a passion for the outdoors that he shared with his family by hunting, fishing, hiking, gardening, and spending time at his property fondly called R-Land in the driftless area of Wisconsin.  He passed on his passion for the outdoors to his two daughters Ann and Lynn, his stepchildren Dave and Sara, as well as his six grandchildren.  He was truly in his happiest element when out in nature.

Bruce is survived by his wife Chris of 43 years,  his two daughters Ann Cary of Minneapolis and Lynn (Michal) Sedivy of Whitefish Bay, his two step children Dave Kissinger of Madison and Sara (Jarrett) Calhoun of Madison, and his six grandchildren Quintin Calhoun, Anna Sedivy, Leah Calhoun, Oliver Sedivy, Evan Cary and Bridget Cary.  Further, he is survived by his sister Elaine (Ken) Kosier, niece Cathy (Roger) Clauson, and nephew Jeff (Ana) Kosier.

We are so thankful to Bee Hive Homes of Oregon for the excellent loving care they provided for Bruce.  We’d also like to thank Agrace Hospice Care for checking on him during his last stage of life and keeping him as comfortable as possible.

Bruce will be missed dearly.  His contagious laughter, boisterous energy, kind and loving heart, sense of humor, and authentic curiosity will live on in our hearts forever.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. at the Cress Center, 6021 University Ave. Madison, WI 53705 on Friday, February 4, 2022.  A visitation will precede the funeral service at 10:00 a.m. The family will have a burial at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin at 6314 Odana Rd. Suite 4, Madison, WI  53719 or at Friends of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve at kickapoofriends.org (recreation management).

Cress Center

6021 University Ave. Madison

(608) 238-8406