Roy Yeazel

MADISON - Roy V. Yeazel passed away in Madison, surrounded by family, on May 30, 2022, at age 93. He was born in Marinette, Wis., on Oct. 18, 1928, to Byron and Mabel Yeazel. He graduated from Peshtigo High School and continued his education at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. He met his wife, Louise, at the UW Lutheran Student House. Roy and Louise married in Algoma on June 21, 1953. Early in their 62-year marriage, the couple traveled to Europe and lived in Indiana and Colorado Springs during Roy’s service in the U.S. Army. He later graduated from Marquette Medical School in Milwaukee in 1961. Roy and Louise moved to Madison, where Roy started his medical practice and they raised five children.

Roy was a dedicated physician and surgeon. He worked as a solo practitioner general surgeon for decades at Madison General and Methodist Hospitals (now Meriter). He later worked in chemical dependency treatment and continued practice as an Aviation Medical Examiner until 2015. His interactions with patients and colleagues were among his biggest rewards in life.

Roy was an accomplished private pilot and loved everything about flying. “George,” a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, was well used by the five family pilots for sightseeing tours of the Wisconsin countryside and memorable trips to Alaska. Roy especially enjoyed “taking someone up” for their first flight and persuading grandkids to try flying. Years after retiring from wielding a scalpel or flying a plane, Roy enjoyed living vicariously by chatting with pilots in his work as an Aviation Medical Examiner.

A dedicated fan of the Madison classical music scene, Roy generously shared his Madison Symphony season tickets with kids and grandkids. He blasted favorite CDs at home, sang along with the Three Tenors, and encouraged family musicians to play, play, play. Roy enjoyed literature and could recite Longfellow and Byron poems from memory, but also blessed us with performances of less elegant offerings such as the Cremation of Sam McGee.

Roy and Louise attended Covenant Presbyterian for decades. His faith supported everything he did. Family and friends were lifted up in prayer nightly and favorite bible and religious book passages were underlined, annotated and worn.

Roy leaves behind his children, Mark (Jody Kempf), Susan (Richard Seegers), David (Melanie), Daniel (Monica) and Stephen (Rebecca); 10 grandchildren; as well as extended family and friends. His loving wife, his parents and his siblings, Glenn and Lyle Yeazel, preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 326 Segoe Road, Madison, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, 2022, with the Rev. Dr. Charlie Berthoud officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 2 p.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.

Friends and family who wish to view the services via Live Stream may do so by visiting Roy’s obituary page at www.gundersonfh.com and clicking on the LIVE WEBCAST link at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Madison Youth Choirs, https://www.madisonyouthchoirs.org/give-now/ or Convenant Presbyterian Church, https://www.covenantmadison.org/give. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson West

Funeral & Cremation Care

7435 University Ave.

(608) 831-6761