Roberta Louise Osterloh, 82, of Lafayette, formerly of Monett, MO, passed away on June 9, 2022 at Westminster Village of West Lafayette. She was born December 17, 1939 in Joplin, Missouri. She was the daughter of Golda Wall Lamb and Curtis Edward Lamb. She graduated from Monett (Missouri) High School in 1957 and from Joplin Junior College in 1959.  In 1961, she received a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Southwest Missouri State College followed by a Master’s Degree in Elementary Administration from Missouri University in 1965.  She did graduate work at several colleges and universities.

She married Leroy Osterloh on June 20, 1959.  They were a good team.  With his encouragement and financial support, she finished college after they were married.  Leroy continued to support her in all aspects of her work and hobbies throughout their marriage of 53 years. She was preceded in death by Leroy and her parents.

She spent her entire career at Monett Elementary School where she taught kindergarten, first grade, third grade, and remedial reading for 17 years.  The last seventeen years of her career were as Elementary Principal, a position from which she retired in 1993.  She was employed part-time by the Monett R-1 School District for two additional years.  Under her leadership, Monett Elementary School was named a “Blue Ribbon School” by the U.S. Department of Education in 1986.  The highlight of her profession life was attending the recognition ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington D.C.  She always said the honor was because of all the great teachers that taught at M.E.S. She had three mentors who influenced her career and teaching experience:  Esther Hennicke (her major professor at SMS), Mary Helen Willhoite (her elementary principal as a student and beginning teacher), and Ralph Scott, her Superintendent who saw in her an ability she didn’t see in herself.

Her love of working with children started at the age of 14 with teaching Sunday School at the First Christian Church of Monett.  It continued through her teaching and administrative years, culminating with enjoying activities with her grandchildren and neighborhood children.  She loved crafting and sewing and kept busy making embroidered baby bibs, costumes, quilts, and hundreds of outfits for American Girls Dolls along with thousands of cards for the military in foreign deployments through “Operation Write Home.”

She and Leroy had one daughter, Leah Osterloh Everly, of Lafayette, Indiana.  Also surviving are son-in-law, Michael Everly, and two much-loved granddaughters, Rebecca Anne Everly and Amanda Jane Everly.  In 1998, Leroy, Roberta, and Roberta’s mother (Golda Lamb) moved to Lafayette to be near this family.  The seven family members enjoyed many travels and activities together.  In her entire life, her favorite role was that of “Granny”. She was also blessed with many close friends with whom she traveled and visited often.

After moving to Lafayette, Roberta was a member of Grace Lutheran church, Chapter CH of the PEO Sisterhood, a driver for the American Cancer Society’s “Road to Recovery”, member of the “Waterstone Women,” and served on the board for the Waterstone Homeowners Association.  She was also a lifetime member or former member of St. John’s Lutheran church of Monett, the Missouri Retired Teachers’ Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, Alumni Associations of SMSU and Missouri Southern College (formerly Joplin Junior College), Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Kappa Iota, Chapter KW (MO) of PEO, and several other organizations and boards including the Board of the Salvation Army and Monett Development Center Board.

Friends may call from 10 AM (EDT) until the time of Memorial Service 11 AM (EDT) Saturday, June 25, 2022 at Grace Lutheran Church (102 Buckingham Dr, Lafayette, IN 47909). Memorial contributions may be made in Roberta’s name to Monett Elementary School in the memo: Buddy Bench Roberta Osterloh. If sending contributions by mail, please send to: Monett Elementary School (601 Learning Lane, Monett, MO 65708). 

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