Charles ‘Charley’ Robers

Charles “Charley” E. Robers, 97, formerly of La Crosse, passed away in San Antonio, Texas, with family at his side on Wednesday July 13, 2022. Charley was born December 31, 1924, in Burlington, Wisconsin. He was the only child of Ferdinand and Louise Roesing Robers.
Charley served in the Navy for three years during World War II. After the war, Charley attended UW-Madison and graduated in 1949 with a bachelor of science degree. Soon after, he joined his father in the dredging business. During this time, he met and married Marikaye Smith on February 2, 1952, and they made La Crosse their home. Eventually, he succeeded his father as owner of Robers Dredging and expanded the business. His proudest moment was when he transported his dredges over land to assist in the rehabitation of the waterways near Mount St. Helens. In 1989, Charley retired from the dredging business and entered the commodities handling business. After successfully building this business, he sold it in 2021.
Charley was a knight of the Holy Sepulchre, and both he and Marikaye went on a pilgrimage to Israel. The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre is a Roman Catholic order of knighthood under the protection of the pope. He has been a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish since 1952. Charley’s fondest memories are of the travels he and Marikaye made visiting numerous countries. Their special place was going to Maui during the winter months.
He is survived by his two daughters, Shelley Gilbert (John) of San Antonio, Texas, and Kitty deNeve (John) of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren, Mimi Fisher, Charley Gilbert (Brittany), Emma Hottmann (Nate), all of San Antonio, and Nieka deNeve of Dallas, and great-grandchildren, Kila, Will and Cade Fisher and Gio, Colton, Madison and Mason Gilbert, all of San Antonio.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years and his parents.
Charley will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife Marikaye in the Catholic Cemetery Mausoleum in La Crosse.
A Mass celebrating his life will be at 11 a.m. Aug. 20 at the chapel at Villa de San Antonio at 8001 North Hollow in San Antonio.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to St. Jude Research Hospital online at Stjude.org or by mail to St. Jude, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Online condolences may be made at www.blaschkeschneider.com.