It is with great sadness that the family of Carol C. Winkler, 79, announces her passing on Monday, April 2, 2018, at the Hillside Manor in Beaver Dam under hospice care.
Carol was born August 10, 1938, in Beaver Dam, WI, the daughter of Arthur and Cecilia (Zimmerman) Kohl. A lifelong resident of Beaver Dam, she left for Phoenix shortly after graduating high school but returned one year later to meet her future husband. During this early time, she worked in various banking positions at First National Bank in Madison and then American National Bank in Beaver Dam.
Carol was united in marriage with Leland Winkler on November 5, 1960. Her Catholic faith was dear to her. She was baptized, confirmed and married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, which later became St. Katharine Drexel Parish. Her devotional of “Jesus Calling” gave her daily strength.
Carol and Lee raised their family while running Winkler’s Business of Family Hair. Always the caregiver, she went back to school for nursing and earned her LPN degree. She worked at both the Beaver Dam Care Center and in the ICU at Beaver Dam Hospital for a number of years. After retiring from nursing, she helped deliver Meals on Wheels continuing her service to others.
She and Lee enjoyed camping and traveling while their family was young. She loved to cook and bake and knitted each of her grandchildren a special keepsake blanket. More recently, she closely followed politics both at the state and national levels. She loved her country and was more than happy to discuss her views on current events.
For the last 13 years, Carol and Lee enjoyed winters at their home in Goodyear, AZ, near Phoenix. This satisfied her love of the sun and warm weather and allowed them to escape the Wisconsin winters.
Survivors include her husband of 57 years Leland; daughter, Suzanne (Peter) Vance, Wausau WI, two sons, Michael (Kathy) Winkler, Chicago IL, and David (Heidi) Winkler, Aurora IL; eight grandchildren, Scott Vance; Matthew, Sydney, and Mallory Winkler; Kendall, Mikaela, MacKenzie, and Cooper Winkler; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Visitation with the family will be held Friday, April 20th, 4-6pm at Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services, 135 Keller Blvd, Beaver Dam. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, April 21st at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, 511 S. Spring St, Beaver Dam. Friends can also visit before the Mass from 10:30-11:30 am. Friends of the family are invited to join in a luncheon immediately following Mass at Cornerstone.
The family sends a special thank you to the Beaver Dam Hospital, Hillside Manor Nursing Home and Hillside Hospice for the excellent and compassionate care that they provided Carol.
If desired, the family would welcome memorials to Beaver Dam Community Hospitals, Inc. or St. Katharine Drexel School located in Beaver Dam.
Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family. You may send private online condolences or sign the family’s guest book at www.cstonefs.com
