Roberta Ann Akalin, age 70, of Pleasant Prairie, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2016, at St. Francis Hospital in Milwaukee, following a 5 month battle will multiple illnesses.

Born on October 21, 1945, in Fond du Lac, WI, she was the daughter of the late Emil J. and Teresa C. (Thill) Steiner.  At the age of 13, Roberta entered the School Sisters of St. Francis at St. Joseph’s Convent in Milwaukee.  When she was 26, she left the convent, as God had other plans for her.  Through the convent, she received her BA from Alverno College and a Master’s Degree from Winona State University.

On February 7, 1976, Roberta was united in marriage to Semsettin Akalin in Kenosha.  They were blessed with one son and celebrated their 40^th anniversary this past February.

Roberta had a lengthy teaching career and was currently employed with KUSD as a school counselor with Bullen Middle School.  She also taught and mentored children from numerous other Kenosha schools throughout her career.  In 2005, Roberta was honored with the KUSD Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Education.  She also taught summer courses at UW-Parkside for their pre-college program.

Roberta was a member of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, the Wisconsin Education Association, Wisconsin School Counselor Association, and the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority.

She will be deeply missed by her husband, Semsettin; their son, Fahri; three sisters, Romaine E. (Marvin “Rick” Kujawa) Soles, Rogene M. (Albert) Kais and Rosalie J. Slomski; two nephews, Jacob (RaeAnne) Soles and Tad J. Slomski and two nieces, Esther “Susie” Soles and Tanya M. (Cliff) Miller.

In addition to her parents, Roberta was preceded in death by a brother, Gerard Steiner and two brothers-in-law, Jerdan M. Soles and Anthony J. Slomski.