Royce Allen Cornell

Royce Allen Cornell passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 25th, 2025 after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Royce was born on February 2,1944 in Boscobel, WI to Toay "Tony" and Olinda Marie Chilson Cornell. As a child, Royce had to walk to the Little Red School house for his elementary education. Later he graduated from Boscobel High School in 1962. Throughout his childhood and early years, he spent many hours working on the family farm. While in High School, Royce worked at the Piggly Wiggly. He was employed there for a few years and once was flown in on a friend's helicopter, dressed as Santa Claus, to the amusement of the local children.
After High School and student teaching, Royce married Norma Jean Robinson at the Methodist Church in Boscobel on June 15, 1967. They had 3 children: Troy, Kelly, and Brandy.
Royce had enlisted into the Navy on March 23, 1967 where he served honorably for two years as a Medical Corpsman attached to the Third Marine Division. During his time of service, Royce trained in Illinois, California, and Florida. He was deployed to Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
For his service, he received the Bronze Star. He also received his honorable discharge as a HM3, Hospital Corpsman Third Class. After his honorable discharge, he continued to protect and serve the country by enlisting in the Reserves for a few years.
Royce's acts of services did not end there. He volunteered his time in many organizations such as the Jaycees and the Self Help Home Program where he helped families in need build homes.
During this time he found his love of woodworking that grew into a great satisfaction of building things for others.
In the early 1990s, Royce traveled to Wyoming to visit a friend and quickly fell in love with the area. It was there that he met the love of his life, Charlotte. Their bond grew, and on June 27, 1998, they were married in Ranchester, WY. That day, Royce also lovingly embraced Charlotte's children-Lacy, Nicole and Tanner-as his own. Royce and Charlotte shared many happy years together, building homes in the Tongue River Valley, traveling to Wisconsin & Minnesota to visit family, and watching Grandkids grow up.
One of their favorite memories was a special trip to Florida with their friends, Randy and Jenny, where they saw all the ocean had to offer- including dolphins and manatees.
Royce loved to bake, with his specialties being banana bread, sugar cookies and apple pie. He always had an amazing garden- over 40 feet- brimming with vegetables that were then canned or given away to friends and family- and any neighbor who visited.
Royce was quick to help anyone in need, generous to give his time, experience or wealth to someone who was down on their luck. He never met a stranger, he always made some sort of an impact on them one way or another. He was constantly cracking jokes, loved fishing, gambling and a good glass of brandy. Royce also enjoyed entertaining friends and family in his home, he was always quick to invite friends and strangers to visit and even stay with him while in Wyoming.
Royce is preceded in death by his wife Charlotte Cornell, his parents, his siblings Jerry- infant, Roger, Dennis "Musky", Dean, Jean, grandson Trey, and his beloved once in a lifetime dog Sarah.
Royce is survived by his brother Gerald "Buzz" (Liane) Cornell; his mother-in-law Joyce Lawler Hovey Neal; his sisters-in-law Thea Hovey and Sharon Hovey; brother-in-law Lon (Paula) Hovey; his children Troy (Rebecca) Cornell, Kelly (Heidi) Cornell, Brandy (Aaron) Austin, Lacy (Dustin) Danielson, Nicole (Alex) Garcia, Tanner (Lorianne) Tippets; his grandchildren Brittny (Nathan Scheveck) Cornell, Alexi (Dustin) O'Connell, Teagan (Autumn) Cornell, Trenton Cornell, Tristan (Takara Vangn) Schroeder, Khalie Cornell, Christopher (Tabitha) Cornell, Tylor Cornell, Elizabeth "Lizzy" (Eric) Dressler, Owen (Kaitlyn Reed) Austin, Madison Danielson, Jackson Danielson, Tatum Tippets-Waits, Dusty Garcia, Kade Garcia, Remi Garcia, Blakely Tippets, Ember Tippets; his great grandchildren, Heath O'Connell, Weston O'Connell, Elijah O'Connell, Aubrey Cornell, Broxton Cornell, Greyson Cornell, Ellie Cornell, Alania Cornell, Jayce Cornell, Everly Cornell, Lilian Dressler, Remington Dressler, and McCoy Schroeder; and his beloved pets.
A public viewing at 10:00 am and Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August 1, 2025 at 11AM at the Dayton Community Center in Dayton, WY, with Military Honors, followed by a meal and burial in the Dayton Cemetery.
Please send cards and flowers to Kane Funeral Home in Sheridan, WY. A Celebration of Life will be held in Wisconsin at a later date.
Champion Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.