Obituary of Jalen Kendale Roberts

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of Jalen Kendale Roberts (Man), an alumni swimmer of Loy Norrix High School (the Knights). On Thursday, February 20, 2020, Jalen passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in his home at the age of 20 after battling seizures for over 10 years. Jalen Kendale Roberts was born to Kendra Michelle Gilkey and Dale Roberts in Kalamazoo, MI at Borgess Hospital on November 30, 1999. Jalen graduated from Loy Norrix High School in 2018 and was a competitive swimmer winning award medals and varsity letters. He worked at Western Michigan University as a janitor and volunteered at Millwood United Methodist Church feeding the elderly and working in the food pantry. He enjoyed spending time with his sister Jada. Jalen affected many people in his lifetime he mowed the grass of several neighborhood residents and loved helping people. Jalen was preceded in death by his paternal grandfathers Eddie Roberts and Kenneth Gilkey. Jalen leaves to cherish his memories, his maternal mother Kendra Michelle Gilkey; father Dale Roberts (Barbara); three sisters, Megumi Nikkita Roberts of Kalamazoo, MI, Tyesha Michelle Langford of Dallas TX, Jada Monique Roberts of Kalamazoo MI; two brothers, Rashad Deshawn Thomas from Dallas TX, Skylar Culver of Kalamazoo, MI; Two Grandparents: Charleen Thompson (Emanuel) of Kalamazoo MI and Gwendolyn Gilkey of Dallas TX; three nieces Roseline Culver, Zariah Robinson and Amaya Brown and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.