Gary Winings

Wednesday, July 15, 2015 5:04 pm

Gary Winings, 70, of Dover, Del., passed away Saturday, July 4, 2015, at home, surrounded by his loving family. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gary’s honor can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; All Children’s Hospital, John Hopkins Medicine, 500 7th Ave South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701; or The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Resource Development, Operations 1275 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta, GA 30309-3506. Mass of Christian Burial was at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 11, at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Festina, with Monsignor Cletus Hawes officiating. Organist was Lorraine Meyer. Soloist was Cindy Schissel ( “Goin’ Home,” “Be Not Afraid,” “Amazing Grace,” “On Eagle’s Wings” and “How Great Thou Art”). Lectors were Kathy Becker and Heidi Foster. Mass servers were Connor Frana and Sydney Becker. Offertory gift bearers were Ella and Lily Cuddy, Adrienne, Matson, Levi and Emma Winings. Eucharistic ministers were Elaine Heying and Kathy Becker. Casket bearers were Ryan Becker, Kelly Frana, Reid Hageman, Randy Frana, Justin Lechtenberg and Steve Lechtenberg. Military honors were by the Honor Guard from Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Neb. and Halverson – Giesen American Legion Post No. 266, Calmar. Interment was at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Cemetery in Festina. Arrangements were handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Calmar.
Gary Rodger Winings was born Aug. 23, 1944, in Colville, Wash., the son of Raymond and Ollie (Harold) Winings. Gary proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for 27 years, beginning his career in logistics and material control at the age of 18. He retired in 1989 as a Senior Master Sergeant, and began a second career with the Civil Service at the youth center on Dover AFB, holding that position for 18 1/2 years. Gary was united in marriage to Joan Lechtenberg March 14, 1970, at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Wash. He was very involved with The Boys and Girls Club, and spent a great deal of his free time volunteering at the Youth Center on Dover AFB coaching baseball, basketball, golf and soccer. Gary also enjoyed hunting and fishing, but his greatest pastime was golf. He also was a member of the American Legion Fox Post in Dover; and MISGA, the Maryland Interclub Senior Golf Association. He enjoyed a quiet and peaceful life, and cherished spending time with his family, especially his children and grandchildren.
Gary leaves behind his loving wife of 45 years, Joan Winings, Dover, Del.; his two children, Natalie (Mark) Cuddy, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Mark (RyAnn) Winings, Festina; six grandchildren: Lily and Ella Cuddy, Adrienne, Matson, Levi and Emma Winings; brother, Jim (Darlene) Winings, Kettle Falls, Wash.; and sister, Neva (Raymond) Harrington, Grand Coulee, Wash.; sister-in-law, Mary Gifford (second Mom), Colville, Wash.; mother-in-law, Phyllis Lechtenberg, Ossian; sisters and brothers-in-law: Vernelle (Floyd) Hackman, Fort Atkinson; Lois (Gary) Frana, Calmar; Larry Lechtenberg, Calmar; Lora (Dave) Kuhn, Mount Vernon;  Alan Lechtenberg, Calmar; and a special “sister” Mary Lechtenberg, Ossian. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Ollie (Harold) Winings; siblings: Roland Gifford (second Dad), Bob Winings and Verva Yeager; brother-in-law, Lawrence Yeager; sister-in-law, Dawn Lechtenberg; nephew, Tim Harrington; niece, Linda DePaulo; and several other nieces and nephews.