Joseph William Royer

Joseph W. Royer, 96 of Grand Island, died Friday, June 09, 2017 at CHI Health, St. Francis Grand Island.



Services will be 1:30 p.m., Friday, June 16, 2017 at Gollaher Chapel, Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Kelly Karges officiating. A private family burial will be prior to the services in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation hours will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 15, 2017 at Apfel Funeral Home, Grand Island. Memorials are suggested to the donors choice. Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family.



Joseph William Royer was born, February 9, 1921 in Harrison County, Iowa near Woodbine, Iowa, the son of Howard and Ida (Mullenix) Royer. He lived his early years on their home farm until graduating from Woodbine High School with the class of 1939. He worked at Bell Aircraft Company in Buffalo, New York until he entered the United States Army, September 2, 1942 from Woodbine, Iowa. He served in the European theater with the Troop Carrier Command of the 9th Air Force as a Lieutenant and pilot until his tour ended and he was honorable discharge, December 27, 1945 from Sioux City, Iowa. He participated in the Battles of Market Gardens, Varsity, and Battle of the Bulge, flying C47s and C46s.



He was united in marriage to Julia Hunt, April 24, 1943 in Montgomery, Alabama where he was taking his cadet training at that time. Julia was able to be with him during his 14 months of training before he went to Europe. Upon returning home he went into the electrical contracting business in Woodbine, Iowa moving to Grand Island 1952, working as a salesman for an electrical company. Joe was a partner in Bassett-Royer Agency for 12 years until forming a new corporation R/B Sales Corp in January 1979. He was a manufacturers representative in this corporation until 1987. During that time he was President of NEMRA (National Electrical Manufacturers Representative Association) for two years for Iowa-Nebraska.



Joe kept active the remainder of his life. He drove for Hamilton and then Dinsdale Cadillac in his later years, which he enjoyed since he drove so much as a salesman during his business years. He and his wife enjoyed many travels together. He looked forward to his 29th Squadron reunions to visit with his Air Force friends and enjoyed playing cards at the Platte-Duetsche. Joe will be remembered as a good friend, and a great husband and father.



He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Elks, Saddle Club, V.F.W., Platte-Duetsche, UCT, Nebraska-Iowa Electrical Council and Liederkranz.



Those left to cherish his memory include his sons and daughters-in-law, David and Jan Royer of Tampa, FL, Jeffrey and Joan Royer of Omaha, four grandchildren, Jonathan (Dakota) Royer of Tampa, FL, Kimberly Royer of Salt Lake City, UT, Jamey Royer of Omaha, and Jennifer (Nathan) Anderson of Oakland, NE and two great grandchildren, Noah and Ivy Anderson of Oakland, NE and one sister, Wanda Teale of Omaha.



He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Julia Royer, three sisters; Ula, Leone and Lanoir.



Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.apfelfuneralhome.com