Doug Schneider

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

He toiled in the trenches as a Green Bay Packer, doling out punishing blocks so teammates could bask in the glory.

But on Friday, the late Fred "Fuzzy" Thurston was honored as a member of Packers royalty during a celebration of his life. Fans, former teammates and team officials gathered in the Lambeau Field Atrium to remember Thurston as one of the team's greatest ambassadors both during his days as left offensive guard on Vince Lombardi's championship teams of the 1960s, and in his decades as a restaurant and tavern owner after he retired from football.

"He was just first class all the way," said Bo Karll of Green Bay, who wore a Packers No. 63 jersey he said Thurston had given him after it no longer could be worn in games or practices.

About 300 people, many in Packers jerseys, some in Cheeseheads, jammed a fourth-floor room at the Atrium to view photos of Thurston, reminisce with fellow fans and rub elbows with Packers players from the recent and distant pasts.

Thurston, who had lived in Neenah and Waupaca after his playing days, died Sunday following a battle with cancer. He would have turned 81 on Dec. 29.

But his memory will live on for many, including younger players who said they learned life lessons from watching and interacting with the man that former teammate Dave Robinson simply called "Fuzz."

"He gave me some life lessons," said William Henderson, a fullback on the Packers Super Bowl XXXI team who remembered joining Thurston on a cruise. "Avoid the distractions. Enjoy the game. Respect the team."

Several generations of Packers were represented Friday. From the Lombardi-era teams, Robinson and Jerry Kramer spoke at the memorial, while Jim Flanigan, Bob Long and Bob Skoronski paid their respects. Chester Marcol, the team's standout kicker from the 1970s, came down from his home in upper Michigan. Center Frank Winters and tight end Mark Chmura joined Henderson in representing the XXXI winners.

Long, who now lives in Brookfield, remembered being a first-year player when Thurston said, "Hey, rook, we're taking you out with us." Thurston and Max McGee then drove the young receiver to Neenah to visit The Left Guard restaurant. Thurston was a part owner; McGee had a crowd of women waiting for him.

"I never met anybody who didn't like Fuzzy," recalled Long, who said he felt a special bond with Thurston. Both had been college basketball standouts — Thurston at Valparaiso in Indiana, Long at Wichita State in Kansas — before switching to football.

Mark Murphy immediately saw Thurston's personality when the pair were introduced not long after Murphy became Packers president. Murphy offered his hand.

Thurston delivered a hug.

"Fuzzy was one of the giving and popular Packers we're come to know," Murphy said. "No one personified the connection between fans and players better than Fuzzy."

Packers fan Wayne Sargent said Thurston was able to make that connection because he was both a player and a fan.

Sargent remembers hosting Thurston during a playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Thurston's cancer made it difficult for him to speak, Sargent said, but the former player's facial expressions communicated his frustration as the Packers eventually lost.

Jerry Kramer, who teamed with Thurston at guard to lead Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung on Lombardi's famous Green Bay Sweep, recalled Thurston's ability to joke, even at times of adversity.

Kramer, now living in Idaho, spoke of a time when enormous Kansas City Chiefs tackle Buck Buchanan hit Thurston so hard he bent the Packer's steel face mask. Asked by a teammate how things with Buchanan were going, Thurston said, according to Kramer, "I'm kickin' his ass!"

— dschneid@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @PGDougSchneider