Royal R. Haefner

Royal Haefner passed away from the loving care of his family on Thursday afternoon, July 25, 2024, into the loving arms of Jesus. 

Royal was born on December 17, 1936 to Richard Haefner and Edythe (Washburn) Haefner in Dowagiac, Michigan. He lived his entire life in Paw Paw, Michigan. 

He graduated from Paw Paw High School in 1956 and worked for Smith and Smith, Civil Engineer and County Surveyor. In 1959, he went to work for Van Buren County as the Director of the Land Description Office, where he worked for 41 years. His first project was to correct land descriptions and draw maps of the entire county, parcel by parcel. In addition to this, among his most successful projects were the spreading of taxes, the Re-Monumentation project and the creation and implementation of the County-wide Street and House Numbering Project. 

On October 4, 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Judith Brockway, and they celebrated 65 wonderful years of marriage. They were blessed with two daughters, Deborah and Kimberly, son-in-laws, Gary and Christian and granddaughters, Brianna, Sophie and Amelie. 

He was a disciple of Christ and a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Paw Paw. He served as a Deacon, Elder, and member of a variety of committees and commissions. He taught adult Bible classes for many years and was a student of the Bible. 

Through his faith and commitment to the church, his family, work and community, Royal also enjoyed photography, walking in Newton Woods, traveling to the Upper Peninsula for family vacations, and woodworking. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Edythe Haefner. He is survived by his loving wife, Judith Haefner, his two daughters, Deborah (Gary) Goodman of Alabama, granddaughter, Brianna (Cameron) McCollum of Colorado; daughter, Kimberly (Christian) Gaedeke and granddaughters, Sophie and Amelie Gaedeke of Plymouth, Michigan and brother-in-law, Alan (Jan) Brockway of Paw Paw. 

"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). 

Family and friends are invited to visit Saturday, August 3, 2024, at First Presbyterian Church of Paw Paw, 120 Pine Street, Paw Paw, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A memorial service will begin at 12:00 p.m. with Tom Shoemaker officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church of Paw Paw or Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries.