Roberta Moore Sterner was born on February 21,1921 in Mendham, New Jersey, to Mary
Eudora (Colville) Lowery and William F. Lowery, the seventh of 10 children.

She enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower gardens, contributing flowers and vegetables
to church events, special occasions and friends. She passed this love on to her children. She
took a keen interest in wild and woodland plants and could identify and name scores of native
plant varieties that grew in the woods and fields of Ionia.

Ed and Roberta liked to travel. On their trips Ed and Roberta always took plenty of photos and
enjoyed sharing their slides and reminisces with numerous local organizations.
Roberta was generous with her time, energy, and talents. She was a devoted member of the
First United Methodist Church in Ionia. She was active in the church and choir for decades. She
taught dozens of local girls to sew and cook as a 4-H group leader, and for many years led Girl
Scout Troops.

Roberta attended Michigan State University (then Michigan State College) and received a
degree in home economics in 1943. She met Edward F. Sterner in 1941 in their chemistry class.
He was a student at the Michigan State College of Veterinary Medicine. Ed said later that he
knew immediately that she was the girl for him. They married on May 28,1944 and started
their life together in Ionia, Michigan. They remained happily married until Ed’s death on June
23, 1997.

After Roberta graduated from MSU, she taught Home Economics in the Onsted Public Schools.
When she and Ed married, they built and managed Sterner Veterinary Clinic. Their work with
the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine led to an innovative preceptor program, where
veterinary students spent a semester working side-by-side with the vets at Sterner Vet Clinic.
There are many veterinarians around the world who have fond memories of Roberta’s Sunday
dinners.

She is survived by her five children: Keith Sterner (Lynn Sterner), Ruth Barkham (Thomas W.
Barkham), Anne Jeffers (Kevin Jeffers), Lorene Sterner (Eric Lipson), and Rebecca Sterner, 12
grandchildren Kim Sterner Coward (Brian Coward), Travis Sterner (Scott Greig), Kristin LeGrand
(Matt LeGrand), Carrie Barkham Myer (Joshua Myer), Trevor Barkham (Emily Barkham),
Jonathon Barkham (Julia Barkham ), Thomas Barkham (Elizabeth Barkham), Abra Jeffers (Jon
Martin), Tess Jeffers (Timothy Palpant), and 16 great-grandchildren (Ethan, Samuel, Dash,
Norah, Etta, Evelyn, Eleanor, Edward, Benjamin, Frederick, Adriana, Thomas, Jackson, and
Natalia).

Roberta will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ionia First Methodist Church or the Edward F. and Roberta M. Sterner fund for Bovine Research at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University.

Arrangements are entrusted to Lehman Funeral Homes.  Online condolences may be may at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.