Winter Funeral Home and Cremation Service
George Winter
(July 13, 1923 - February 6, 2012)
Funeral services will be held 1 PM Friday February 10th at the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center with Pastor Bill Peake officiating. Visitation will be Thursday evening from 5-8 PM at his funeral home in Buffalo Center.
Life long Buffalo Center resident and owner of Winter & Sons Funeral Homes, George Winter, age 88, died peacefully at home Monday February 6, 2012.
George Winter was born on July 13, 1923 to parents Ubbe and Hermena (Sleper) Winter at Buffalo Center, Iowa. He grew up and was a 1942 graduate of Buffalo Center High School. Mr. Winter then entered the United States Navy to do his part in World War II. After his honorable discharge, George entered and graduated from the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science program, graduating in 1951.
In 1952, George purchased Schutter Furniture Store and in July 1953, the Schutter funeral home. He was united in marriage to Evelyn Bappe, his partner of 58 years on September 13, 1953 at Correctionville, IA. George and Evelyn owned and operated Winter Furniture Store and Floor Covering; Winter Ambulance Service until 1969, and Winter Funeral Home and Cremation Service for 60 years. George took great pride in serving local families in their time of need and considered it to be his primary calling until the very end. George was to be honored at the Spring Iowa Funeral Directors Convention for his 60 years of dedication to funeral service as a licensee in the State of Iowa. Even recently, George mentored younger funeral directors who crossed his path. He was also very active in his community serving the American Legion Post #21 for over 66 years, the Buffalo Center Fire Department for 42 years and was also an active member of the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center.
George was an avid golfer, walking nine holes almost every day. He followed both professional and local sporting events and loved the Yankees and Packers. He took pride in keeping his yard looking its best at all times and enjoyed the morning coffee gang. Mr. Winter took great interest in his son’s professional careers and found it humbling that they all decided to serve the same local public that he served, all staying within 30 miles of home.
George is survived and will be greatly missed by his loving wife Evelyn; three sons; Randall (Laura) Winter of Forest City, Bart (Medara) Winter of Lake Mills and Kirk (special friend Marge) Winter of Buffalo Center. Grandchildren; Kyle (Kelly Ruth) Winter, Natalie (fiancé of Ben Simonet) Winter, Rebecca (Bill) Meyer, Kessa Olson, Samantha (special friend Jeff Wittmer) Winter, Tyler Olson, Alex (special friend Mikki Holstad) Winter, Jenny (John) Kolb, Sarah (Brett) Coberley. Great-grandchildren; Kayla Coberley, Grace Kolb, Cody Kolb, Jacob Kolb and Lillian Ruth Winter. Brother; Lawrence (Carmen) Winter of Stewartville, MN, sisters; Margie Miller of Des Moines, IA and Minnie (Merlin) Walker of Algona, IA and sister-in-law; Ruth Winter of Buffalo Center.
He is preceded in death by his parents, twin brother Andrew, brothers and in-laws; Edward (Irene) and John (June), brother-in-law, Merle Miller, daughter-in-law, Cyndi, two infant brothers and two infant sisters.