Douglas E. Winters
Douglas Earl Winters, 85, of Centerville, passed away peacefully from cancer, Sunday, October 16, 2022, at Bethany Riverside Transitional Care, surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
Douglas was born September 14, 1937, to Merlyn and Wilda (Hanson) Winters in Centerville. He was a life-long Centerville resident. While growing up, Douglas helped his father at the Winters Grocery Store, selling groceries, farm machinery, and at the family farm, raising cows, pigs and crops. He attended and graduated from Healy Memorial High School in 1956. Douglas then earned his Certificate of Apprenticeship from the State of Wisconsin as a plasterer. Douglas, or “Dougie” as called by his co-workers, worked for Poellinger, Inc, and himself as a plasterer from 1957 to his retirement in 2000.
On December 26, 1954, Douglas married Kathleen McClanahan. Soon after they welcomed their first son, Michael. In time, the family grew with the births of Rhonda, Eric and Hollie.
Throughout his life, Douglas continued his rich and deep connection to the Centerville community. He was a member of the Centerville Curling Club since the age of 11 years old. Through the years, he served in various capacities as a dedicated club member. Douglas was their Board President, the ice maker and caretaker. For many years, he ran the Senior Men’s Bonspiel complete with the yearly pancake breakfast and Sunday Morning Brandy Flips! In his later years, Douglas organized and ran the Monday Afternoon Senior League. It was his opportunity to share his love of curling with new and old members.
In 1954, he became a congregation member of the First Presbyterian Church in Galesville. Douglas served as an Elder, a Trustee and still attended regular Sunday services. He was also the caretaker of the Evergreen Cemetery, located in the Town of Trempealeau, from 1964 through the Summer of 2022. For many years, he marked and dug graves, did all of the mowing and grounds upkeep, and served as the President of the Evergreen Cemetery Associate Board of Trustees.
After his retirement from plastering, Douglas served as a Board Supervisor representing the residents of District 2 on the Trempealeau County Board for the past 20 years. He was most proud of his work on the Trempealeau County Healthcare Center Board, Agriculture Extension, and the Western Dairyland Community Action Agency. He dedicated his years of service to helping Trempealeau County residents in need.
Douglas is survived by his son, Michael Winters; his daughter, Hollie (Winters) Bowker; a son-in-law, Chuck Timm; his grandsons: Ian Bowker, Nathan Skaar, and Chip (Megan) Timm; his granddaughters: Kylee Skaar and Mackenzie (Collin Brown) Timm; and his great-grandchildren: Nolan Lemek, Emma, Hadley and Shea Timm.
Douglas was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kathleen; his daughter, Rhonda; his son, Eric; along with his parents; and both his maternal and paternal grandparents.
Douglas was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, friend, and community servant leader.
Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Galesville. A visitation will be held Friday, October 28, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, October 29, 2022, visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. with a Noon lunch and a 1:00 p.m. burial at Evergreen Cemetery.
