Victor Olin Winnen's Obituary
Mount Pleasant – Victor Olin Winnen, 101, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, April 23, 2016.
Victor was born in Minong, WI to Paul and Lula (nee: Welch) Winnen on December 29, 1914. He was raised on his parent’s farm two miles north of Wayzata, MN and graduated from Wayzata High in 1934. He attended the University of Minnesota for one year before coming to Wisconsin in 1939. Victor was united in marriage at First Baptist Church to Josephine Podlucky on October 12, 1940. They continued to be active members of the church and spent the next 64 years together.
Victor grew up learning farm work. Before moving to WI he was in the National Gard and was a Justice of the Peace in Plymouth Township, MN. In Racine he worked as an iceman, milkman and factory worker. He was at Apex Screw Machine for just over twelve years. During this time, Victor attended the County College and received a teaching degree. He continued by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from UW – Whitewater in 1962. He was an acting principle in the Raymond school district before working for Unified School District as a fifth grade teacher at Johnson school for 14 years. He retired in 1977.
During retirement, he raised flowers, garlic, fruits and vegetables. He sold them on the road and at farmer’s markets. Victor also made and sold wood crafts at the Starving Artist fairs. Victor loved to bowl at Paradise West and was one of three people who started a Monday league. He bowled well into his 90’s. He enjoyed fishing and was an avid reader.
Victor and his wife loved to travel together: touring the western United States, being on the first tourist groups to visit China and they were at Disney World when it first opened at night. They also traveled to Europe. At age 95, Victor went on a cruise to Alaska.
Victor will be dearly missed by his daughter, Charlotte Winnen; grandchildren, Susan Winnen and Mark (Alicia) Winnen; daughter-in-law, Kathryn Winnen; and great grandson, Benjamin Winnen. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Josephine; and his son, David Winnen.
A celebration of Victor’s life will be held at the Wilson Funeral Home on Monday, May 2, 2016 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Holly Anderle officiating. Committal service and interment will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet with the family from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to either First Baptist Church, Racine County Food Bank (a box will be provided for any non-perishable food items that you may bring to donate in Victor’s honor), Milwaukee Rescue Mission or to the Salvation Army. Condolences may be made at www.wilsonfuneralhomeinc.com.
The family wishes to thank the hospice aids and nurses at Heartland Hospice, the doctors and nurse practitioner at Wheaton and the Heart Failure Clinic, the Reverend Holly Anderle of First Baptist Church and Kathryn Winnen for their support and kind, caring compassion.
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