JOHN RAYMOND WINKEL

JOHN RAYMOND WINKEL
AUGUST 13, 1941 – DECEMBER 16, 2017
FUNERAL NOTICE AND OBITUARY
 
 
John Raymond Winkel, 76, Benson, Minn., died Saturday, December 16, 2017, at home.  Visitation will be from 4–7 p.m., with a Rosary at 5 p.m., Wednesday, December 20, 2017, at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff.  Visitation will continue from 10-11 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., Thursday, December 21, 2017, at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church.  Interment will be in the St. Bartholomew Catholic Cemetery in Villard, MN at a later date.  Arrangements are with Zniewski Funeral Home.
 
John Raymond Winkel was born August 13, 1941 in Glenwood, Minnesota, to Ferdinand and Helen (Schmitz) Winkel.  John grew up on the family farm south of Villard, MN.  He attended Villard Public School.  John was in the Navy for a short stent in 1959 and received an honorable discharge.  John was united in marriage to Lois H. Eblen on December 26, 1960, sharing 56 years of marriage.
 
John and Lois had 4 children; Mark Kelly, Kimberly Ann, Nanette Marie and Rosa Helen of which 9 beautiful grandchildren were born: Tabitha, Joshua, Jeremy, Ashley, Andrew, Natalie, Luke, Samantha, and Nicole; with 12 great-grandchildren.
 
John was employed at several jobs before moving to DeGraff, MN, in 1970, where he worked for George J. McCarthy Lumber Company as a truck driver and then with Fritz Trucking in Clara City, MN, delivering freight to the west coast.  On January 2, 1979, he was employed with Jacobson Transport, Inc. in Wheaton, MN, as a Hazmat (hazardous material) truck driver and in March of 1986 he started doing sales and working in the Safety Department until his death.
 
John enjoyed his 9 beautiful grandchildren!  John also enjoyed classic country music, fishing, hunting, 6-5-4 (shaking dice with his grandchildren), playing poker with his friends, and their 2 dogs Brutus and Caesar, along with just doing his job.
 
John is survived by his wife, Lois Winkel of Benson; children: Mark Winkel (Rose Fritz) of Sauk Rapids, Kimberly (Dana) Mellgren of Kerkhoven, Nanette (Jeffrey) Pelkey of Paynesville, and Rosa (John) Staup of Lowry; 9 grandchildren: Tabitha, Joshua, Jeremy, Ashley, Andrew, Natalie, Luke, Samantha, Nicole, and all of their spouses; 12 great-grandchildren. Siblings: George (Elayne) Winkel, Delores Andert, and Margaret Laumeyer.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Ferd and Helen; great-granddaughter, Ellie Crystal Mellgren; son-in-law, Marty Frank; brothers-in-law, Swede Andert and Al Laumeyer; nieces and nephews, and many other family and friends.  Blessed be the memory of John Raymond Winkel.
 
Please sign the guest book at:  www.zniewskifuneralhome.com