J. Gregory Winn

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - J. Gregory Winn, 75, of Ironwood Township, passed into eternal glory on June 9, 2016 (written prior to his death by Greg himself).

He was born on April 26, 1941, at Grand View Hospital in Ironwood. He was the son of the late James L. and Rose M. (Pianfetti) Winn. He attended local schools and graduated from St. Ambrose High School in 1959. He attended Gogebic Community College for two years but was more interested in goofing around with a rock and roll band than studying, so he never did graduate from GCC.

After marrying Lucia Lund on June 17, 1961, they moved to Wausau, Wis., where he started a 13-year hitch with NCR Corporation as a computer mainframe technician. He left NCR to work in computer operations for Cenex Cooperatives in 1974, after which he worked for Control Data Corporation in the Twin Cities area as a computer technology instructor and technical writer.

During his sojourn at Cenex, Greg attended the University of Minnesota, School of Music for five years, amassing 243 quarter credits toward a BA in Music Theory. Since he never fulfilled the foreign language requirement, he never graduated, which never stopped the U of M from hounding him for donations.

On May 12, 1984, he married Bonnie Heiden in St. Paul, Minn.

After Control Data released him from their workforce in 1997 (along with most of their other employees), Greg worked as a technical writer for several Twin Cities firms, 3M among them. In 1999 he, Bonnie and daughter, Bethany, abandoned Minnesota for the woods and returned to the Ironwood area.

Greg was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Little Girl's Point, Ironwood, where he was the de facto organist for many years. He was also Immanuel's chief scribe (composing and copying the weekly worship folders and bulletins) and one of Immanuel's elders ... although there were several people older than he was. He was also one of the organists/pianists at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ironwood, and occasionally filled in at other local churches when they were really, really desperate.

Greg is survived by his wife, Bonnie; five children, Jim Winn, St. Paul, Julie Vazquez, Orange, Calif., Laurie Winn (Shelly Thomas), Flagstaff, Ariz., Jennifer (Stuart) Bishop, St. Paul, and Bethany (Jonathan) Larson, Champaign, Ill .; two grandchildren, Amy Vazquez and Sam Thomas; two brothers, Thomas (Myra), Richfield, Minn., and Robert (Barbara), Montreal, Wis .; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Greg was preceded in death by his parents.

A celebration of his life will be celebrated at Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, June 18, at 11 a.m., with Pastor Kurt Brandon officiating.

Greg's family will receive visitors in the church sanctuary from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.

Committal and interment will follow in Sunset Acres Cemetery, Ironwood Township.

Luncheon will be served in the church fellowship hall upon return from the cemetery.

McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.