Royal Petzoldt

Royal Petzoldt, 78, of Oak Ridge passed away Thursday, July 9, 2020, at the home of his son, David, near Zalma, Missouri.

Royal, and his twin brother, Roy, were born June 22, 1942, in Altenburg, Missouri, to Russell and Alieda Hemmann Petzoldt.

He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, also the church where he and Verna Dell Roberts were married April 8, 1967. One son, David, was born to their union. They had been married 36 happy years, when Verna Dell passed away June 4, 2003. He later married Ruth Pohlman, who has three children, Jackie, Elaine and Jim. They survive.

Royal served in 1140th Missouri National Guard in Cape Girardeau. He was employed at Shawneetown Feed and Seed and then more than 30 years as an electrician at Procter & Gamble.

Royal was a graduate of Immanuel Lutheran Grade School in New Wells. He was a lifelong faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, serving as treasurer, trustee, usher and choir member. He also played on the church dartball team.

During the Christmas season, Royal enthusiastically decorated his home with thousands of lights and poinsettias. People came from miles around to see his final creation. Interestingly, Royal liked to visit theme parks and especially enjoyed riding roller coasters.

Loving survivors include his second wife, Ruth Petzoldt of Perryville, Missouri; son, David (Melissa) Petzoldt, and sons, Tristan and Trenton of Dexter, Missouri; brothers, Bobby (Sandy) Petzoldt of Jackson and Elmer (Doris) Petzoldt of Perryville; and sisters-in-law, Mary (the late Roy) Petzoldt of Scott City, Esther (the late Vernon) Petzoldt of Shawneetown and Doris Petzoldt Gihring of Shawneetown.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Verna Dell Petzoldt; brothers, Roy, Vernon and Norman Petzoldt; infant twin siblings, Paul and Pauline Petzoldt; and his parents.

Visitation is from 9 a.m. to service time Monday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Chad Bles officiating. Burial will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in New Wells.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Crown Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab of Royal's personal obituary page at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.