Joseph John Roby, age 99, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2020, at a local care center.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, January 23, 2020, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown, with a scripture service at 6:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 24, 2020, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Watertown with Father Richard Fox officiating. Jane Jaspers will be the organist with Brad Heesch as the song leader; Carrie, Kristi and Joe Roby will be the lectors; Carrie, Jeff and Michael Roby will carry the Gifts; and Marisa Roby Nelson will be the Eucharistic minister.
Interment will be (with family) at St. Mary's Cemetery in Watertown.
All of Joe’s 17 grandchildren will be his honorary pallbearers, with grandsons, Jeff Roby; Michael Roby; Scott Roby; Patrick Roby; Shane Roby and Nathan Roby serving as active pallbearers.
Joe was born January 12, 1921, at the family home in Hecla, SD. He was the fifth of nine children born to Raymond J. Roby and Marie Z. (Clemens) Roby. The family moved to Watertown in 1928. Joe attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and was graduated from Watertown Senior High School in 1940. At WHS, Joe was a class officer and an outstanding football, basketball and track athlete for the Arrows. He set the school record in the 100-yard dash in 1939 (10.1 seconds) resulting in the Public Opinion Sports Editor giving him the nickname “Smokey Joe”. His WHS 100-yard dash record stood until 1969. Joe also anchored the Arrows’ 440-yard relay that was invited as one of eight teams from throughout the United States to run in the 1939 and 1940 Drake Relays in Des Moines. Joe was inducted into the Watertown Arrows Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
Following high school graduation, Joe completed a course in accounting at Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls and moved to Burbank, CA where he went to work for Bank of America. When the United States entered World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Joe returned to Watertown and enlisted in the Army. He served in the European theatre of WWII from 1942 to 1946.
Joe returned to Watertown following his Army discharge and went to work for his brother-in-law, Bud Dugan, as bookkeeper, salesman and installer at Dugan Sales and Service. In 1960, Joe went to work as the office manager and bookkeeper for the Watertown Public Opinion where he remained until his retirement in 1991.
When Joe returned from the war, he joined a Catholic social organization and met the love of his life, Frances Louise “Lue” Flanagan of Henry, SD. Joe and Lue were married at Saint Henry Parish in Henry, SD, on March 26, 1951. They have five sons, Joe Jr., Jim, Mark, Doug and Don.
Those who knew Joe will recall his decency, integrity and kind spirit. He set an example for his boys by treating people as he would want to be treated. Joe had a great sense of humor and loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was given credit for teaching his grandchildren how to walk, find their nose and ears, throw a ball and sing “You Are My Sunshine” and “Show Me the Way to Go Home” while being bounced on a knee.
Grandpa Joe shook hands with everyone. His sons learned to do the same. There are countless pictures of Joe shaking hands on all occasions.
Joe is survived by his wife, Lue, and his five sons, Joseph J. Roby, Jr. (Kathy) of Duluth, MN, James C. Roby (Annette) and Mark S. Roby (Ronda) of Watertown, Douglas A. Roby (Candy), Sioux Falls; and Donald L. Roby (Kelly) of Watertown; 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren – with more on the way.
Memorials may be directed in Joe’s memory to the charity of one’s choice.
When I come to the end of the road, and the sun has set for me,
remember the love that we have shared, and that will comfort thee.