Donald Winters

Donald A.Winters, 84, of Lansing, IA, died Sunday, May 14, 2017, at Thornton Manor in Lansing. A private family graveside service with military honors will be held at a later date at Oakland Cemetery in Waukon, IA. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Donald Arthur Winters was born February 6, 1933, on a farm in rural Waukon, IA, the son of Marvin Le Roy and Rosena Lena (Rolfs) Winters. He attended country schools. For a while, Don's family lived on a farm outside of Riceville, IA, where his father ran the cheese factory. Don worked a variety of jobs throughout his life. Besides helping farm and making cheese at the Volney Cheese Factory, he worked at the Shell service station in Monona, IA, was a farm hand for farmers around Allamakee and Clayton Counties, worked on the assembly line at the Charles City Oliver Plant, drove a cheese delivery truck to the Bridgeport, WI, cheese factory, picked up milk from farmers, and loaded box cars for Quaker Oats in Cedar Rapids, IA. In April of 1953, Don joined the U.S. Army and served until January of 1954 in Germany during the Korean War. He served with the 7th Armored Division Battery, C-87th AFAB, and was assigned to the 656 Combat Engineer TOPO BN.

After being discharged, Don returned home to take care of the farm after his father had a heart attack and also hauled milk. In 1956, he moved back to Waukon and worked at the DX Station as a service attendant for 29 years, retiring in 1985 due to heart issues. On October 20, 1957, Don married Mary Jane Boyd at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Lansing, IA. He was a past member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon and was currently a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Don enjoyed squirrel hunting and working on and fixing up cars to buy and sell.

He is survived by his wife Mary of Lansing; his three children: Marvin J. Winters of Maquoketa, IA, Susan (Ron) Kuhnke of Baraboo, WI, and Eric J. Winters of Waukon; five grandchildren: Brian Rosendahl, Mike (Tabatha) Rosendahl, Kimberly (Chad) Stieferman, Brian (Amber) Kuhnke, and Brice Kuhnke; nine great-grandchildren: Autumn, Mason, and Kaydance Rosendahl, Rhilee Rosendahl, Owen and Wyatt Stieferman, and Brenden, Preston, and Alexis Kuhnke; a brother Richard C. (Noreen) Winters of Cedar Rapids; a sister Eileen Schossow of Minneapolis, MN, cousin Hartley Latterman of Iowa City, IA; sister-in-law Lavonne (Wayne) Brandt of Postville, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; a brother LeRoy M. Winters; and brother-in-law Fred Schossow.