Burgher, Royce Sage

Royce Sage Burgher

Royce Burgher, 87, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012, after a brief illness.

Royce was born June 20, 1925, in Wayne, Ohio, to Ralph and Naomi (Sage) Burgher.   He attended Wayne schools, graduating in 1943. He married Catherine Smith on Aug. 11, 1945. She died June 22, 1997.

In his younger days, Royce played trombone in the front line of the national title winning Fostoria (Ohio) VFW marching band during the late 1940s and ‘50s. He worked in the marketing and advertising field for many years, including time at Swift & Co., Cudahy, Doyle Dane Bernbach, and Bozell & Jacobs. When he retired, he worked managing the family farm in Ohio.

In his spare time, Royce loved tinkering around the garage working on Thunderbirds and spending time with his grandchildren. He spent the last eight years living near his daughter in San Antonio, Texas.

Royce is survived by a son, Thomas (Mary) Burgher of Amana, Iowa; a daughter, Teresa (Mark) Ray of San Antonio, Texas; and two grandchildren, Liesl and Fritz Burgher.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Donald; daughter-in-law, Phyllis; and granddaughter, Emilie.

Funeral arrangements are being directed by Herman-Kinn-Veh Funeral Home in Gibsonburg, Ohio. A private service will be held in Gibsonburg at a later date.

Published Dec. 28, 2012 in The Gazette