Memorial
Edward F. Winter of the Meth-Wick Community died January 1, 2015.
Survivors include sons Lonnie Winter of Llano, California; Richard (Linda) Winter of Maui, Hawaii; daughter Carol (Glen) Randolph of Tucson, Arizona; sons David Winter of Lexington, Kentucky; William Winter and Timothy (Denise) Winter of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; grandchildren: Curt (Natalie), Robert (Laurie), and Sean Randolph; Jorge (Miriam) and Mike (Ashley) Galindo; Dustin, Josie, and Gabriel Winter; great-grandchildren: Tatum, Emerson, and Phoebe Randolph; Ethan, Hailey, and Megan Galindo.
He was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn Grube Winter; his parents Martin and Ida; sisters Gertrude Cole and Loretta Dotzel; brother Earl; a grandson, Jeff Winter; an infant brother, John; and twin sons Gerald and Ronald who died in infancy.
Edward was born September 14, 1915 on the family farm in Jo Daviess County, Illinois to Martin and Ida (Stadel) Winter. He graduated High School from Scales Mound, Illinois in 1931 and from Iowa State College in 1939 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Civil Engineering. He was inducted into two Honorary Fraternities: Tao Beta Pi Engineering Fraternity and Scabbard and Blade Military Fraternity. Ed was married to his childhood friend, a fellow resident of Jo Daviess County, Evelyn Grube; they had sixty-one years together until Evelyn's death. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Field Artillery Reserve in June 1939.
Ordered to active duty at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in January 1942, he served several years teaching recruit fillers and completing advanced artillery officer courses. During the organization and training of the 63rd "Blood and Fire" Infantry Division, he was assigned to the 863rd 105 mm Howitzer Battalion at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, as 5-2 Intelligence Officer. The 63rd Division shipped out to Marseille, France in 1944, joined the front lines south of the Saar River, battled through the heavily defended French Maginot line and the Siegfried line to advance into Germany and pursue the German ground troops until their surrender on "VE" Day.
During his four years of instruction, training and combat he earned expert marksmanship medals in both carbine and pistol, as well as the Good Conduct Medal, the European Theatre Ribbon and the Bronze Star, with Oak Leaf cluster. Years of service as staff training officer in the Reserve 103rd Infantry Division Artillery, followed by assignment as Commanding Officer of the local Civil Affairs training unit, qualified him for successive promotions, retiring in the rank of Colonel.
As Cedar Rapids City of Building Official from 1962 through 1982, he received numerous awards and certificates of appreciation, namely: from Citizens for People with Disabilities, Cedar Rapids Office Education Committee, Iowa Building Official and Iowa Engineering Society, Iowa Commission of Persons with Disabilities, Phil Roberts Award for Outstanding Service to Building Code Development and Administration from the International Conference of Building Official, Whittier, California.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday, January 10, 2015 at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. The family will greet friends at the funeral home immediately following the funeral service, from 4:00 until 6:00 PM. Private inurnment will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial donations in Ed’s name may be made to Camp Courageous