He was born on March 19, 1929 to the late George and Hattie (Verg) Polfuss in Juneau, WI. He was active in sports and band at Juneau High School, graduating in 1947. Royce worked for the Dodge County highway department until he joined the Army in 1951 and saw duty in Korea. He left active duty in 1952, remaining in the Army Reserve until 1959. He was called to active duty again in 1961 and was honorably discharged in 1962. Royce began his long career with former Wisconsin Bell (Ameritech) after his return. from Korea. he retired in 1986. Royce married Hilde Luedke at the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Juneau on February 14,1953. They lived in Beaver Dam and Oshkosh before settling in Sobieski in 1962, where they raised their four children. Royce was very active in St. John's Lutheran Church in Little Suamico. He served in various capacities in the church council, St. John's Brotherhood, building committee and worked on many breakfasts and other church events. He had numerous hobbies, particularly enjoying woodworking and auto restoration. He and his family have a long history of taking in abandoned pets. Royce's great smile, warm chuckle and kind heart will be missed by all who knew him.
Royce is survived by his wife Hilde; his son, Michael Polfuss, Sobieski; a son and daughter-in-law, Daniel (Laura) Polfuss, Mt. Prospect, IL and their children. Matthew, Heather and Jared; two daughters and sons-in-law, Heidi (Stephen) Schuette, Suamico and their daughter Hattie; and Lori (Kevin) McPoland, East Kingston, NH; sisters, Estelle Edelman, Lenexa, KS; Ruth Kuchenreuther, Brown Deer, WI and Mary Zuelsdorf, Horicon, WI; and brothers Ernie Haertel, Beaver Dam, WI and Donald Polfuss, Horicon, WI. He was preceded in death by his sister, Norma Firehammer.
Friends called on Wednesday, December 20, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at St. John's" Lutheran Church, 1253 County J, Little Suamico. Funeral service was 1 p.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. Julie Wrubbel-Lange officiating. Burial in Little Suamico Cemetery. Harold J. Pfotenhauer, Funeral Director.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Royce's name at Pfotenhauer Funeral Home West, 1145 Cardinal Lane, Green Bay WI 54313.