David Andrew Winkowski

WESTON, Wis. - David Andrew Winkowski, 98, passed away peacefully surrounded by family Sunday, July 17, 2016, in Weston.

David was born at home in Bessemer, Mich., on March 4, 1918, to Edward and Leocadia (nee Slomkowski) Winkowski. David was united in marriage to Dorothy Agnes Rondeau on May 31, 1941, at Saint Michael Church, Kahoka, Mo. They shared 69 loving years together until her death July 4, 2010.

In addition to his wife and parents, David was preceded in death by his brothers, Edward Jr. and Leonard; and his sister, Leonette Winkowski Kremer.

David was raised in Bessemer. After graduation from high school in 1936, he traveled south to Marquette University in Milwaukee, where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1940. He proudly and honorably served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning the Meritorious Unit Award with star and the Victory Medal.

After his discharge, David and his family moved to Shorewood, where he lived for the next 53 years. David worked many years as a sales manager for Sealtest Dairy Products, until Sealtest moved the operation out of Wisconsin. David then went on to work on the staff of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee until his retirement in 1985.

David was a lifetime Chicago Cubs fan; his father was recruited by both the Cubs and White Sox. David attended the 1935 World Series with his mother in Chicago. He was hoping 2016 would be the year for the Cubs. He was also an avid basketball fan of his alma mater, Marquette University Golden Eagles, and a life-long Green Bay Packers fan.

David loved to play cards - bridge, sheepshead and cribbage. He continued to play cards until his death. David was athletic. He set the Bessemer High School track record, in 1936, for the 100- and 220-yard dashes at the Upper Peninsula State Track and Field meet at Michigan Tech in Houghton, Mich.

He played golf for many years throughout Wisconsin, as well as in the Carolinas and Florida. A high point of his golfing was attending the 1997 Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Ga., with his son and grandsons.

He was a prolific gardener, both floral and vegetable. His pride and joy every year were his home-grown tomatoes, which he willingly shared with friends, neighbors and relatives. He was also an early entry into the concept of recycling, and for many years, his specialty was aluminum cans.

David was a loving father and grandfather whose crowning achievement was the legacy of the "Crown Jewels" he and Dorothy left through their surviving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His children include daughter, Mary Kay Ehlers, and husband, Michael, of Wausau; son, David O. Winkowski and wife, Lana, of Concord, N.C .; daughter, Janet Balyeat and husband, Thomas, of Ironwood, Mich .; and daughter, Amy DeBoer and husband, William, of Tampa, Fla.

David is also survived by granddaughters, Heidi Cude and husband, Russ, of Grenada, Miss., Dr. Sally Ehlers and husband, Dr. Atul Thakker, of Centralia, Wash., Elizabeth St. John and husband, Andrew, of Brunswick, Md., Molly Milski and husband, Martin, of New Holstein, and Jaimee Gregor of Hurley; grandsons, Michael Ehlers Jr. and wife, Susan, of Oilmont, Mont., David O. Winkowski Jr. and wife, Katie, of Wethersfield, Conn., Daniel Winkowski and Jackson Cavenaugh, of Long Beach, Calif., Andrew Gregor, Esq. of San Diego, Max Gregor and wife, Ashley, of Woodbury, Minn., Major James Scoville, PhD. and wife, Gillian, of Cape Canaveral, Fla; great-grandchildren, David Stadler, James and Peter Cude, Jacob Ehlers-Uber, Benjamin and wife, Shayle, Cassius, Rachel and Paul Ehlers, Nathaniel, Emily, Luke and Nicholas Milski, Megan Gwinn and husband, Tommy, Alex and Spencer Kornblum, Lydia Winkowski, and Isabella and Adrian Scoville; and sister-in-law, Nancy Larscheid, of Mequon.

The family would like to give thanks and praise for the outstanding care that David received at the Rennes in Weston, and also thanks to his very favorite physician, Dr. Margaret Anderson.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 25, at St. Michael Catholic Church, Wausau. Rev. William Grevatch will preside. Friends may call on Monday from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church. Full military honors will be conducted by the American Legion Montgomery Plant Post 10, Wausau.

Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth St., Wausau, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed at petersonkraemer.com.