Jeffrey McRoberts 09/25/2024

Jeffrey “Jeff” B. McRoberts, age 73, a City of New Richmond resident, passed away on September 25, 2024 at the Westfields Hospital & Clinic Urgent Care.

Jeffrey was born on September 14, 1951 in Janesville, WI to the late Kenneth and Valerie (Maiden Name: Nelson) McRoberts. Jeff attended Adams Elementary School and Marshall Junior High School in Janesville. The family then moved to Eau Claire, WI in 1965 where Jeff graduated from Memorial High School in 1969. On September 17, 1970, he was accepted at the Eau Claire Technical Institute (present-day CVTC) into a Mechanical and Hydraulic Assemblyman apprenticeship program at the FMC Corporation, Northern Ordnance Division.

He was united in marriage on June 3, 1972 to Bernardine C. Duerkop at the Sacred Heart Church in Eau Claire, WI (divorced in 1997). After living in various locations in Western Wisconsin and the Twin Cities area, Jeff and his family settled in New Richmond, WI in 1978.  He worked at the FMC Corporation in various roles including Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Product Program Manager, and Senior Defense Consulting Advisor.  During the 1980s and early 1990s, Jeff managed defense programs in Minneapolis, MN, San Jose, CA, Boston, MA, and Seattle, WA.  From 1992 to 1997, he refocused on his career. He was employed at Hutchinson Technology only to be requested to return to United Defense and BAE Systems (through acquisitions of legacy FMC Corp.) to manage manufacturing programs in Minneapolis, MN and Huntsville, AL until his retirement.

Outside his professional and family life, Jeff held a deep passion for his music career.  Starting at a young age playing the standing bass in grade school orchestra, Jeff participated in several University of Wisconsin music camps and events during his high school years.  After high school, Jeff joined his first band as a bass player, “Lynnda and The Goodtymes”.   For the next 4 decades, he played and composed music for several groups including Night Train, Lariat, and Borderline.

In addition to work and music, Jeff enjoyed several hobbies, including carpentry, real estate, pursuing a pilot’s license, activities with his 3 sons, and motor vehicles, including a VW Beetle, Harley Davidson Sportster, and Mercedes-Benz 280SE. He also had a resourceful sense of humor in all situations.

Survivors include Fiancée: Brenda Germain, of New Richmond, WI; 3 Children: Geoffrey (Samantha and children Isabella and Dominic) of Houston, TX, Jason (Stephanie and children Beau, Alexi, Tristan, Dominic, Trajan, Gavin, Jacoby, Soren, Aria, and Xander) of Melrose, WI, Justin (Sonia Quezada and children Sophia and Henry) of Las Vegas, NV and their mother, Bernardine Duerkop, of New Richmond, WI; Brothers:  Kenton Scott, of Menomonie, WI and Quentin (Lori), of Lodi, WI; Sisters: Ellyn Bartelt of Thorp, WI and Sarah Buehler of  Rhinelander, WI.  Jeffrey is preceded in death by his parents, Brother: Martin Ross McRoberts in 1994 and Sister: Julie Ann McRoberts in 2015.

A celebration of Jeffrey’s life will be held at a later date at a private ceremony spreading his ashes. For online condolences please visit Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services – New Richmond at bakken-young.com