Roberta Maxine Cwiekalo

Roberta “Bert” Maxine (McCallum) Cwiekalo, 77, Choctaw Lake, London, Ohio, went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 17, 2026. Her departure was from Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Bert was born August 11, 1949, at Queen’s Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii as the first born to Alice Hooulupua (Wright) and Elliott Lumaheihei McCallum. Bert lived in Hawaii until she was 12 when the family moved to Hayward then Fremont, California. She was a graduate in 1967 from Mt Eden High School, Hayward, California.

After graduating from high school, Bert joined the U.S. Air Force and was on active-duty November 1967–July 1971, attaining the rank of Sergeant.

In 1968, while attending the 16-week U. S. Army Adjutant General Stenographer Course at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Indiana, she met the love of her life, best friend and roommate, Sergeant Alexander “Alex” Cwiekalo, Jr, from Iselin, New Jersey. Upon their graduation in May 1968, Bert went to Wiesbaden, Germany and Alex to Naples, Italy. After a whirlwind romance (first date February 1968, engaged May 1968) they were married September 14, 1968, in the AFSOUTH Post Chapel, Naples, Italy. After a weekend honeymoon on the Isle of Capri, Bert returned to Wiesbaden. It wasn’t until January 1969 when Alex was reassigned to Wiesbaden, Germany that the couple was able to begin their life “together.” Their son, Jasson (1971), was born in Wiesbaden, Germany; their first two daughters, Krista (1973) and Kaila (1975) were born in Omaha (Bellevue), Nebraska; and baby daughter Katrina (1977) was born in Naples, Italy.

After Bert’s Honorable Discharge from the Air Force in 1971, she became a military spouse and her and Alex travelled (with family) all over the world until Alex retired in 1995. During that time Bert worked many jobs across many careers from law offices, energy companies, DoD Schools, Army, Navy and Air Force civilian and government contractors. From 1985–1994 the family was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and Kirtland AFB, New Mexico when Alex retired in 1995. The family then relocated to Northern Virginia where Bert became a contract security officer (1995-2001). Bert and the family returned to Ohio in 2001 where she was a contract program security officer at Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio (2001-2009) and again at Wright-Patterson AFB until she completely retired in 2019. From 2001–2007 they lived in Grove City, Ohio and then moved to Choctaw Lake, London, Ohio in 2007.

Bert, a cradle Catholic, was a parishioner in military chapel communities all over the world. Upon returning to Ohio in 2001, she was a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Grove City, Ohio 2001-2007), St. Patrick Church (London, Ohio 2007-2021) and then Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church (West Jefferson, Ohio, 2022 - present). Bert and Alex were always active in many of the ministries at every parish they belonged to, as well as local community volunteering.

Bert was a member of the Ss Simon and Jude Parish Woman’s Guild, and also a sacristan, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at mass and to homebound parishioners. She became a USO volunteer in 2015 with hundreds of volunteer hours at the Dayton and Columbus Airport USO Centers, as well as other USO special events at various locations across the state of Ohio. When Bert completely retired she only increased her volunteerism: Madison Health, Madison County Senior Center, H.E.L.P. House of London, Holy Family Soup Kitchen and a ministry at the Ohio Reformatory for Women.

Bert was preceded in death by her son Jasson Cwiekalo and parents Alice and Elliott McCallum.

She is survived by her husband and roommate of 57 years, Alex; daughters Krista (Brandan) Litman, Kaila Cwiekalo and Katrina (Brian) Mooney; grandchildren Haley (Thomas) Autenrieb, Officer Derek Litman (Columbus PD), Robert Cwiekalo, Arek Cwiekalo, Bryant McDougle, Kaitlin Litman, Dylan McDougle and Paulina Cwiekalo; Sisters Ailene and Tammy (Anderson); Brother Davison; Daughter-in-law Karen (Parker) Cwiekalo, and many beloved cousins, nephews and nieces.

The family invites friends to call at Lynch Family Funeral Home, 124 East High Street, London, Ohio 43140, Friday, August 21, 2026 from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 8pm. A funeral mass will be held at Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 9350 High Free Pike, West Jefferson, OH 43162, Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 11am. Interment will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Bert has requested consideration of donations in her name to Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church, 9350 High Free Pike, West Jefferson, Ohio or the United Services Organization (USO Ohio), 221 Birch St / Bldg 1222, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.