1934
Gunther
2016
Gunther H. Winkler
October 1, 1934 — July 8, 2016
Gunther H. Winkler, 81 of Bolton, CT, loving husband of fifty-eight years of Helen (Hofmann) Winkler, died Friday, July 8, 2016 at an assisted living facility in Glastonbury after a long and courageous struggle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Gunther was born in New York City October 1, 1934, son of Gustav A. and Irma (Lux) Winkler .He spent his early childhood in Freeport, Long Island before his family settled in Rifton, NY. A graduate of Kingston High School, he went on to study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master's degree in Management Engineering. He was a member of Phi Mu Delta fraternity and the RPI Glee Club..
Prior to his retirement Gunther was a Project Engineer at Hamilton Standard and had previously worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. A quiet, unassuming man, he loved his family deeply and was kind and considerate to all who were fortunate to have known him. There was no task he was afraid to tackle; he believed that " if someone else could do it, he could learn to do it too." His interests were many and varied. He was an avid gardener and a 40 year member of the CT Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society which awarded him the society's Bronze Medal for outstanding contributions. He worked for many years on his family's genealogy, enjoyed stamp collecting, photography and was an accomplished bird carver. His love of fishing took him to northern Maine, Alaska, Venezuela, Brazil and Great Slave Lake in Canada. For several years he volunteered as engineering advisor to the Bolton High School Solar Bolt, a battery/solar powered car that always excelled in competition. Gunther loved the Town of Bolton where he made his home for the past fifty-five years. He was a long time member of the Bolton Scholarship Committee, a member of the town's first Conservation Commission, actively involved in the early development of Herrick and Indian Notch Parks, and also served on the ad hoc Save our Beautiful Bolton committee.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Jeffrey and Lisa Hamaker of Bolton, MA and Brian and his wife Dana of Jacksonville, OR; four grandchildren, Danielle, Christopher, Eric and Kelly Winkler; his sister and brother, Millie Coleman and her husband George of Rifton, NY, and Lee Winkler and his wife Ellen of New Paltz, NY, and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours Tuesday, July 12 from 3 to 5 PM at the Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main Street. Manchester, CT, will be followed by a special time for family and friends to share favorite memories in celebration of a life well lived. Burial will be in Bolton Center Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Bolton Scholarship Fund, Inc, 72 Brandy Street, Bolton CT 06043, the Alzheimers Assoc. 200 Executive Blvd., Southington, CT 06489-1058, Vitas Hospice Service, 628 Hebron Ave, Bldg. 2, Suite 300, Glastonbury, CT 06033. 06033, or Bolton Land Trust, 36 Maple Valley Road, Bolton, CT.
To leave a message for the family, please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com
Visitation DetailsTuesday, July 12th, 2016 3:00pm - 5:00pm, Holmes Funeral Home
Service DetailsTuesday, July 12th, 2016 5:00pm, Holmes Funeral Home
Interment DetailsBolton Center Cemetery
Gunther was born in New York City October 1, 1934, son of Gustav A. and Irma (Lux) Winkler .He spent his early childhood in Freeport, Long Island before his family settled in Rifton, NY. A graduate of Kingston High School, he went on to study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master's degree in Management Engineering. He was a member of Phi Mu Delta fraternity and the RPI Glee Club..
Prior to his retirement Gunther was a Project Engineer at Hamilton Standard and had previously worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. A quiet, unassuming man, he loved his family deeply and was kind and considerate to all who were fortunate to have known him. There was no task he was afraid to tackle; he believed that " if someone else could do it, he could learn to do it too." His interests were many and varied. He was an avid gardener and a 40 year member of the CT Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society which awarded him the society's Bronze Medal for outstanding contributions. He worked for many years on his family's genealogy, enjoyed stamp collecting, photography and was an accomplished bird carver. His love of fishing took him to northern Maine, Alaska, Venezuela, Brazil and Great Slave Lake in Canada. For several years he volunteered as engineering advisor to the Bolton High School Solar Bolt, a battery/solar powered car that always excelled in competition. Gunther loved the Town of Bolton where he made his home for the past fifty-five years. He was a long time member of the Bolton Scholarship Committee, a member of the town's first Conservation Commission, actively involved in the early development of Herrick and Indian Notch Parks, and also served on the ad hoc Save our Beautiful Bolton committee.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Jeffrey and Lisa Hamaker of Bolton, MA and Brian and his wife Dana of Jacksonville, OR; four grandchildren, Danielle, Christopher, Eric and Kelly Winkler; his sister and brother, Millie Coleman and her husband George of Rifton, NY, and Lee Winkler and his wife Ellen of New Paltz, NY, and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours Tuesday, July 12 from 3 to 5 PM at the Holmes Funeral Home, 400 Main Street. Manchester, CT, will be followed by a special time for family and friends to share favorite memories in celebration of a life well lived. Burial will be in Bolton Center Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Bolton Scholarship Fund, Inc, 72 Brandy Street, Bolton CT 06043, the Alzheimers Assoc. 200 Executive Blvd., Southington, CT 06489-1058, Vitas Hospice Service, 628 Hebron Ave, Bldg. 2, Suite 300, Glastonbury, CT 06033. 06033, or Bolton Land Trust, 36 Maple Valley Road, Bolton, CT.
To leave a message for the family, please visit www.holmes-watkinsfuneralhomes.com
Visitation DetailsTuesday, July 12th, 2016 3:00pm - 5:00pm, Holmes Funeral Home
Service DetailsTuesday, July 12th, 2016 5:00pm, Holmes Funeral Home
Interment DetailsBolton Center Cemetery
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gunther H. Winkler, please visit our flower store.
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