Roger J. Hopfensperger

Roger J. Hopfensperger, 79, Appleton, passed away on Thursday, April 17, 2025, surrounded by his family. He was born on June 16, 1945, to the late Joseph and Marie (Jochmann) Hopfensperger. On February 15, 1985, he married Sheila Uitenbroek, daughter of Irene (Marx) and the late Denis Uitenbroek. This year, Roger and Sheila celebrated 40 years of marriage.
Roger grew up on his family farm in Harrison. He was a rambunctious young man always exploring and tinkering with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Roger graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1964. He was drafted into the US Army in 1965 and served along the volatile DMZ in Korea from 1965-67 as a combat engineer. After his years of service, he worked for Bel Kaukauna Cheese as a semi-professional truck driver until his retirement in 2011. He enjoyed snowmobiling, golfing, and running the town with his best friend, Danny Kroiss. Roger enjoyed a hot breakfast at local diners, special playdates with his granddaughter Emery, and exchanging grins with his newest grandson, Hugh. He was a collector of farm memorabilia/tractors and relished a good Shopko clearance find. He enjoyed jokes. He was a man of routine, picking up the weekly special order of donuts from Manderfields for "Break".
Roger was a hardworking, caring man. His sarcasm was legendary. He will be missed dearly.
He is survived by his wife, Sheila; their four children and their families - Jake, Tony (Kelleen), Peter Hopfensperger, and Maria (Drew) Pribek; grandchildren Emery Pribek, Hugh Hopfensperger, and a soon-to-arrive granddaughter, Baby Myla Pribek; his brother, Edward Hopfensperger; his mother-in-law, Irene Uitenbroek; the extended Uitenbroek family; many nieces and nephews; and his longtime friend Harvey Schmuck.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Marie Hopfensperger; his sister and brother-in-law, Marion and Carl Buchinger; his sisters, Lucy Hopfensperger and Mary Helen Hopfensperger; father-in-law, Denis Uitenbroek; and his nephews, Bob Buchinger (Roger's Godson), Brendan Uitenbroek, and Craig Uitenbroek.
A private funeral mass will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial in Roger's name has been established.