Obit: Awe, Royal Arthur* (1925 - 2016)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Awe, Berninghaus, Blakeley, Fisher-Blakeley, Jable, Kinderman, Schulte, Sterzinger, Wirtala, Zawadzki

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 12/05/2016

Awe, Royal Arthur* (13 OCT 1925 - 26 NOV 2016)

Royal A. Awe, 91, passed away peacefully Saturday, November 26, 2016 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield, with his daughter Janice at his side and surrounded by the love of his entire family.

Services will be Saturday, December 10, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 207 S. Cherry Ave., Marshfield. Pastor Gisele Berninghaus will officiate. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Saturday.

Royal was born October 13, 1925, the youngest child of Edwin and Frieda (Schulte) Awe. He and his eight brothers and sisters grew up in a log cabin in the Town of Green Grove, Clark County. Royal attended school through the eighth grade and then went to work on the farm; he later worked in a cheese factory making Colby cheese.

He married Irene Herrmann on November 30, 1946, in Colby. Royal and Irene farmed together in the Town of Colby until 1969 when they moved into the City of Colby. Royal worked for Colby Public Schools for more than 20 years, retiring as the maintenance supervisor for the school district. He drove school bus for decades, safely taking students to school and back as well as to sporting events, music festivals, plays, and more throughout the Midwest. Royal was also a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician and served as Colby fire chief for several years. Royal and Irene moved to Marshfield in 1994 and were members of Faith Lutheran Church.

Royal and Irene traveled to all 50 states and nearly all of Canada, plus took a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Israel. Together they enjoyed seeing the sights and visiting family wherever they roamed.

Royal was a true caregiver all his life. He loved his family with his whole heart and modeled true love by selflessly caring for Irene for seven years after her stroke. He cheered on his children and grandchildren in all that they did, always providing a shoulder to lean on and an encouraging word. He could fix anything, whether that was a broken light switch or a broken heart. He was unfailingly cheerful and optimistic, always ready with a smile and always appreciative of a good story.

He is survived by his children: Roger (Phyllis) Awe of Fredericksburg, VA; Wendy (Steven) Kinderman of Eau Claire, WI; and Janice (Gary) Sterzinger of Marshfield, WI. Royal is further survived by six grandchildren - Jason (Olivia) Awe, Heather Awe, Beth Kinderman (Eric Zawadzki), Angela Kinderman, Dana Sterzinger (Matt Fisher-Blakeley), and Megan Sterzinger; two great-grandsons, William Zawadzki and Parker Royal Blakeley; another great-grandchild joining the family in early 2017; two sisters, Gertha Jable and Dorothy Wirtala; sister-in-law, Norma Herrmann; many nieces and nephews; and his cat, Leo.

Royal was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, on June 11, 2013, his parents, four sisters, and two brothers.

Memorials are encouraged to Faith Lutheran Church, the Central Chamber Chorale, or the Colby Library Capital Campaign.

Online condolences may be made at www.hansenschillingfuneralhome.com. 

Note: * Middle name extracted from Hamann B and Schulte 2b Family Tree data.