Roberts gets new heating and cooling units as part of Lennox ‘Feel the Love’ program

Tony Roberts was always lending a helping hand to others, and he died doing just that as he attempted to assist a stranded motorist, pushed a coworker out of the path of oncoming traffic along Highway 330 and was hit by a vehicle in the process on Aug. 21.

The longtime Marshalltown resident left behind his wife Stacy and their three sons, and less than two months out from his sudden passing, they're still very much grieving his loss every day. But as one might expect, they've received an outpouring of love and support from their friends and family members in a number of ways since then.

"He was one of a kind, very giving. When I was told what happened, it didn't surprise me. I would've been surprised if he didn't stop and help somebody," Stacy said. "But I know he's feeling the love up there. He's probably worried about me and how I'm gonna make it and how I'm gonna get through it, and I don't think he has to worry about it."

Still, Stacy had to admit she was a bit flustered when, just a few days after her husband's passing, her friend Cherie Wacha reached out and asked her how old her furnace and air conditioning units were.

"I blew it off for a little bit, a couple days, because (there were) other things on my mind and then it was 'Oh, I guess I should look that up for her' not knowing why she wanted me to look it up," Stacy said.

As it turned out, there was a good reason: she had been nominated to receive a free heating and cooling system replacement from Lennox as part of their "Feel the Love" program, and they worked with a local dealer, Ethington Heating and Cooling, to complete the installation on Tuesday. Lennox previously teamed up with B&G HVAC for a similar project in Marshalltown earlier this year.

"It's very overwhelming. I didn't expect all this today, but it's huge. I had so much support from my family and my friends, and now it just seems like I've got the community coming in and helping me," Stacy said. "And it makes a person feel really good."

Stacy and Tony's middle son Joey said he grew to appreciate the kind of man his father was the older he got, and his absence has only made it clearer how much he did for the family -- or, in Tony's case, old friends, neighbors or anyone else who might happen to need help.

"I think I just grew up and realized that he literally would do anything for anyone," Joey said. "I try to do that, probably not as good as my dad did. He had years of experience with that on me, but he instilled some pretty good stuff with me and my brothers. He was a good guy, and I think my mom getting all the help she's gotten and us boys getting all the help we've gotten has been great and very much needed because you don't realize how much somebody's done for your family until they're gone. I think my dad would be beyond happy with everything that's going on."

Cindy Brodin had worked with Stacy and Tony when they were involved in the Marshalltown Football League (MFL) and nominated Stacy for "Feel the Love." Like his sons and his wife, Brodin spoke of Tony's giving nature and his willingness to always go the extra mile regardless of the circumstances, and even though the deadline for nominations had passed, she worked with Sam Wiese of Lennox to fill the final opening.

"When I heard what had happened, I couldn't believe it was Tony, and then when I found out that he was a hero in it all, I was just talking with Sam and found out that there was one more spot," Brodin said. "I thought 'Well, wouldn't it be nice for us to be a hero and Ethington to be a hero to that family?' Because that's what it's all about is paying it forward, so if you can pay it forward, it makes life easier and better."

For Wiese and Ethington Owner Joel Ethington, the project was a complete no-brainer -- Ethington also confirmed that the entire system was certainly due for a replacement with its age -- and they didn't have to think twice about saying yes. On Tuesday, they rolled up to the home on East Ingledue Street and got to work with a huge crew of friends and supporters and Marshalltown Mayor Joel Greer even making an appearance.

All three of Tony and Stacy's sons, Jake, Joey and Evan Roberts, graduated from MHS and still live in town, and while the ordeal has been the toughest challenge of their lives so far, they feel they've grown closer through it all and set out to live their lives in a way that would make him proud as he watches over them.

"We try to be here for Mom as much as we can and help her out because Dad did everything," Jake said. "So we're trying to pick up the slack so she doesn't have to worry about anything, the best we can I guess."

It has inspired Joey, a father of two daughters who enjoyed a special bond with their grandpa, to be the best dad he can be.

"That's probably been the toughest over the time since he's passed is them, especially my oldest. She just turned six, and so she kind of knows," he said. "Just being there for my daughters, making sure they remember grandpa (is important). They know that he's not here. She reminds me, like every other day, but just being the best dad I can be because even if he wasn't fully present, he was there -- anything, he would be there. Whether it was easy lessons, tough lessons, it was what it was. It was dad. He made us the men that we are, and I think we're doing alright for him."

Lennox has several other "Feel the Love" installations planned around the area in the coming weeks and months, and Wiese encouraged anyone who is interested in nominating an individual or family to do so on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LennoxFeelTheLove. The only stipulations are that they do not install units for mobile homes, and the house must be owner occupied.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.