Royce Allan Havlik

Royce Allan Havlik, 90, passed away at home surrounded by family on October 17, 2025, after a brief illness. He was born in Barnum, Wisconsin, on February 4, 1935, to Frank and Esther (Holliday) Havlik. He attended the two-room grade school in Barnum, graduated from Gays Mills High School, and then went on to U.W. Platteville and graduated with a B. S. in Agriculture.

He joined the National Guard in 1953 and was called up for the Cuban Crisis, serving in Kansas. He worked in various ag-related jobs, until finding his favorite with SouthWest Tech in Fennimore as a farm trainer.

In 1960, he married Margaret “Peggy” Schwert and they made their home on the farm in Haney Valley, where they raised their six children. Royce enjoyed his cattle and hogs, and he also enjoyed putting in crops on those hilly fields.

In his later years, he tried to get to the Vale Inn in Boscobel in time for lunch with Leo and the rest of the lunch gang nearly every day. He enjoyed his grandkids, taking them with him whenever possible. 

He is survived by his wife of 65 years Peggy; children: Julie Klekamp, Joe and Lisa (Tainter) Havlik, John Havlik, Jill and Sergio Ceren, Jamie and Jennifer (McConkey) Havlik, and Jennifer Havlik Weigel; his grandchildren: Seth and Karen, Nathan, Daniel and Ariana, Ryan, Rachel, Lucas and Sarah, Lauren, and Kyle.

Royce was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ron; grandson, Jacob; and numerous other relatives.

Special thanks to St. Croix Hospice--especially Laurie, Jasmine and Carey; to his loving family for their care; and to the Madison VA for their exceptional care throughout the years—he always said they kept him alive.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Gays Mills. Fr. Tom Huff will officiate. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. A luncheon will follow at the Gays Mills Community Center. Online Condolences may be expressed at www.vossfh.com.