Donald "Don" P. Winkler

Donald "Don" P. Winkler

March 30, 1931 - October 20, 2023

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MADISON- Donald P. Winkler, age 92, of Madison, passed away at home on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.  He was born on March 30, 1931, in Milwaukee, Wis., the son of Paul Winkler and Caroline (Goelz) Winkler. Donald graduated from Wauwatosa High School. He had many great stories about growing up in Milwaukee.  He was a drummer in a swing band and worked as a caddy at Blue Mounds Country Club. He developed his love of photography working for the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel as a copy boy. After he was discharged from the service he moved to Madison and worked as an Air Traffic Controller at CAA Truax Field in Madison.  He was married and his children grew up going to the airport for plane rides, visits to the weather bureau in the old terminal and breakfasts at the Jet Room and other local airports, flying there with Don. He supported his kid’s activities proudly.  He married Carol (Tormey) Winkler on Oct. 26, 1990, and they lived in Madison, Wis.  His family grew and their home was the hub for many family gatherings where there was always sure to be a game of basketball out on the driveway or a wild game of Spoons.


Donald proudly served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-1955 including the Korean War. He then worked as a Sales/Store Manager at Sears until his retirement in 1993. He continued to work in public affairs and photojournalism for Wisconsin Aviation and was very involved in introducing aviation to children on educational tours at the airport.  In his free time, he loved flying airplanes and photography. He had his own aerial photography business called Air Vue. He was a member of the EAA, AOPA, Wisconsin Wing CAP, Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame and the Rotary Club of Sun Prairie. He has received several awards for his contributions to Aviation. He was well known for his sense of humor and practical jokes.


Donald’s greatest love was for his family. He was always a source of supportive wisdom, encouragement and unconditional love. He would keep in touch with all of his family, including still being able to text and video chat at 92 years old.  Donald  is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters, Jo Anne (Dale) Winkler-Bley, Kathi (Bob) O'Brien and Lisa (Adam) Gagas; sons, Jeff (Brenda) Winkler, Bob (Pam) Winkler, Greg (Korrine) Winkler and Jeff (Christi) Simpson; granddaughters, Sarah Taplin, Lyndsey Bley, Nikki Winkler, Emma O'Brien, Noelle Timm,  Courtney Gagas and Claire Gagas; grandsons, Zachary Winkler and Ben O'Brien; great-grandchildren, Cora Taplin and Archer Taplin, Tobias Timm, Sophia  Timm, Stella Timm; and nephew, Scott Winkler. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Paul (Jean) Winkler; and niece, Michelle Winkler.


A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023.  Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Thursday. Burial will be held at Highland Memory Gardens at a later date.
 

Memorials may be made to Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame Scholarship Fund-WAHF (Carl Guell Memorial Scholarship) for the education of young pilots or to Agrace HospiceCare. See links below.


Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.


Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420



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Shirley Chapman
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Winkler Famiy— So Sorry for your loss ! The man with many jokes ! The man made people laugh ! Loved to hear him ! Sympathy to you all ! Shirley Chapman
BW
Brian Wermich
Other •
Don and I worked at Sears together. And shared many great conversations about life. Talked almost every day signed off with love you. Then I took a turn for the worst with my anuraism on my Aorta. Now being cared for at Agrace in Fitchburg. So we prayed for each other. Still when news hit he passed we had said we would be waiting for each other.
DW
DAVE WEIMAN
Other •
Don and I have been friends since 1979, shortly after my wife, Peggy, and I started "Wisconsin Flyer" magazine, which evolved into "Midwest Flyer Magazine" in 1980. We enjoyed many good times together, some events he coordinated, such as when Colonel Bob Morgan of "Memphis Belle" fame came to Madison, Wisconsin with the Memphis Belle B-17, and other events I coordinated, such as when I hosted the First Lady of Aviation, Moya Lear (i.e., Lear Jet), for the Wisconsin Aviation Trades Association Convention. Don and I chauffeured Mrs. Lear around Oshkosh, Wisconsin in former Vice President Spiro Agnew's old bullet proof limousine, courtesy of EAA. I also took Don along for a ride when we flew in a KC-135 tanker for a refueling mission out of Volk Field. We had an enduring anf friendship.
SP
Susan K. Parisi
Other •
Dear Jo: I want you to know how much your dad meant to so many of us. He was funny, charming, and just a delightful human being to be around, never a negative encounter. What I remember of my Uncle Don is, he was a rare jewel, indeed. Even though I didn't get to see him very offen, I remember him always being enthusiastic and having the ability to make me smile. I loved his laugh, he was just a funny guy and always encourage me to succeed in what ever I chose to do. I also recall him being proud of me for being in the Air Force, he was so delighted about that. I don't recall knowing that he too was in the Air Force and apparently had a fierce love for flying. Anyway dear cousin, I am so sorry for the pain you are going through, your dad was special and I have NO doubt is telling jokes to the Angels. He was a good man and I am sure his memory will be a blessing to all that knew him and I know that God's light will shine upon him eternal. Love Susan
BP
Barbara Parisi
Other •
I remember my Uncle Don with fondness and love. Always had a joke to tell that never failed to make us laugh, especially my mother who suffered with depression. He was bigger than life for me and my brothers and sisters, and always made time for us when we would sneak into Sears to see him in his suit and tie. I will never forget the boat rides he took us on, and the life conversations he shared with this teenage niece as we walked around the Monona golf course. He was an advisor, a Christian, a good listener, influencer and full of unconditional love. Thank you Uncle Don, you will be dearly missed!
KB
Karen Baumgartner
Other •
Don was one of my dad’s best friend. My family grew up with the Winkler family. Don was always the jokester with a fantastic sense of humor. He and Carol offered their video skills for my wedding, took us flying, toured the airport. I was also lucky to accompany my dad on the Badger Honor Fight with Don and Jo. I’m sorry to hear he passed. My sympathies to the family. He will be missed.

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