Obituaries
DONALD R. WINKLER, of Prophetstown, died on August 28, 2024, at the age of 89.
Don was born on October 4, 1934, in Prophetstown, Illinois, to Ray and Viola (Brown) Winkler, and was soon after put to work on the family farm in Leon Township. He was educated in the rural Leon schoolhouses until matriculating to Prophetstown High School. For some reason, he was a member of the Glee Club there. He graduated in 1952.
Don soon after enrolled at the University of Illinois. This lasted about 10 minutes, as he said he spent most of his time at Steak ‘n Shake. He subsequently dropped out and was put to work even harder on the family farm. At various stages during this time, he was also employed by Hermie Gentz’s Buick dealership in P-Town, International Harvester, and John Deere.
He married Sandra Henson in 1957, around the same time as entering military service with the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma.
In 1960, Don began what he thought was going to be a short stint at Northwestern Steel & Wire. As it turns out, he retired from Northwestern in 1993 after 33 years, having worked with a cast of characters who would make the cantina scene in Star Wars seem normal.
Don and Sandy raised their family mostly in Sterling, Illinois, but moved back to the farm in P-Town in 1981 to take over operations. After retirement from the mill, Don spent most of his time regretting retirement and welding things. He loved raising poultry, taking in stray animals, inventing stuff in the machine shed, going to farm sales, travelling to Florida, and watching any 1940s-50s-era cinematography. Maybe most of all, he loved telling tales – the taller the better. “I had my big toe blown off over Germany …” (he had never been to Germany and also had all his toes).
Survivors include his wife; one brother, Gary Winkler (Maggie); five children, Kathy Mohr (T.J.), Brenda Giblin, Brian (Lisa), Craig (Jackie), and Roy (Alicia); eight grandchildren, Chad, Kelly, Linsey, Trevor, Trey, Maddy, Brody, and Theo; and three great-grandchildren, Declan, Rowan, and Evan.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father.
Plans for a visitation and funeral services are pending. The Bosma-Gibson Funeral Home in Prophetstown, IL, is assisting the family with arrangements. To stay updated on service times, please revisit this website.
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