Roberta L. Ferris, 65, of Watseka formerly of Grant Park, passed away on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. She was born on October 29, 1959 in Kankakee, a daughter of Gilbert and Fern (Baragar) Gustafson. She married Jeffery Dawson on June 2, 1979 in Momence and he preceded her in death on March 5, 1988. Roberta married Richard Marek in Grant Park on June 24, 1989 and he preceded her in death on April 18, 2021.
Roberta married John Ferris on October 5, 2002 and he survives in Watseka. Also surviving are three daughters, Elizabeth (Brandon) Tomblin of Kankakee, Samantha (Michael) Holmes of Bradley, and Emily Marek of Watseka; three step-children, Amanda (Mark) Long of Bourbonnais, Laura (Robert) Lebda of Bourbonnais, and Austin Ferris of Kankakee; and ten grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by both of her parents; two brothers, Ronald Gustafson and Raymond Gustafson; and one grandson, Logan Adams.
Roberta loved antiques and gardening. She worked as an Advanced Medical Assistant for Riverside Hospital. Roberta also served as Firefighter and Paramedic for Grant Park for many years.
Visitation will be on Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to the 1:00 p.m. funeral service all at the Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka with Joe Hughes officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie Dell Cemetery near Iroquois.
Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice.
Please share a memory of Roberta at www.knappfuneralhomes.com.
