Bernard (Ben) Francis Winkenwerder, 82, went home to the Lord May 9, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in Broken Bow, NE.
He was the 12th (and the youngest boy) of 14 children born to Richard and Amelia (Miller) Winkenwerder, at their home southwest of Hershey, NE on March 7, 1932. He attended the Lamont country school, and Sutherland High School. He helped run the family farm while his older brothers were in the military during WWII. Ben was very active in the Rural Youth, where he met many friends and his future wife. He joined the Army in 1954 and was sent to Korea where he was a military police officer.
He married Alice Bloomquist on Oct. 21, 1962. They adopted son Craig in 1966, daughter Karen in 1968, and daughter Carol in 1970.
He worked at Armour Meat Packing, then started his own business laying carpet. He was known to be a perfectionist at his work. He laid carpet for 35 years until his health forced him to quit and even then would do small carpet jobs to help out a friend or neighbor.
He moved to Dunning, NE to live with his sister Dotty Roseberry for several years until his declining health sent him to the nursing home-first in Sutherland and then in Broken Bow.
He is survived by his daughter Carol (Trever) Staff of Lexington, son Craig of Sutherland, and daughter Karen; 5 grandchildren, Jesse “Jess” Schroeder of Gothenburg, Wolfgang Schroeder of Canon City, Co, Konrad Schroeder of Lexington, Katrina Stiefel of Canon City, CO, and Amber (Daryl) Jones of Lexington; and 7 great-grandchildren, Kyle, Cameron, and Dominick Stiefel, Alexia Deck, Izayah Jones, Bella Jones, and Melody Cervantes ; sisters Edith (Gordon) Phetteplace of LaCrosse, WI and Dotty (Jim) Roseberry of Dunning, NE; and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his wife Allie, son Todd Allen, and 11 of his siblings. Online condolences can be made at www.adamsswanson.com.
Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday May 16, 2014 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Sutherland with the Rev. Erin Dunlavy officiaiting . Burial will be in the Lamont Cemetery southeast of Sutherland. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Kearney Area Ascera Hospice, the Sutherland Senior Center or the Grace Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements