Peace Corps Volunteer's Father Says Son Lived To Help



Doug Roberts said his son was scheduled to come home next month. "The anticipation of getting him home was what was keeping me going. We were going to have a Thanksgiving celebration here -- have it as big as we could, and with as many family members as we could get here," he said. The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday and the director of the Peace Corps will speak. Doug Roberts said his son's death was an accident, and at this point they are not blaming anyone. He said the family just wants to celebrate his life and memory.

Peace Corps Volunteer's Father Says Son Lived To Help

Peace Corps Volunteer's Father Says Son Lived To Help

24-Year-Old Omahan Dies In South Pacific

POSTED: 10:23 am CDT October 12, 2007

UPDATED: 5:25 pm CDT October 12, 2007

OMAHA, Neb. -- A 24-year-old Peace Corps volunteer from Omaha was killed Thursday as he cleared brush from a garden, and a spokeswoman said he was an exemplary member of the team.

[Excerpt]

He is survived by his parents, Douglas and Rose Roberts, of Omaha.

Doug Roberts told KETV NewsWatch 7 on Friday that his son graduated from Westside High School in 2001 and from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2005. He said his son's life was about helping people, and he said he and his wife are struggling to come to terms with their son's death.

"You never anticipate a phone call like this. I knew it could happen -- you always know it can happen," Doug Roberts said. "John was our only child, which makes it doubly difficult. I always knew this day could occur. I tried not to think about it."

Doug Roberts said his son was scheduled to come home next month.

"The anticipation of getting him home was what was keeping me going. We were going to have a Thanksgiving celebration here -- have it as big as we could, and with as many family members as we could get here," he said.

The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday and the director of the Peace Corps will speak.

Doug Roberts said his son's death was an accident, and at this point they are not blaming anyone. He said the family just wants to celebrate his life and memory.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: October, 2007; Peace Corps Vanuatu; Directory of Vanuatu RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Vanuatu RPCVs; Obituaries; Fallen

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