Harold Eugene (Gene) Wininger
Harold Eugene (Gene) Wininger, age 76, passed away on Aug. 1, 2024, at his home in Eau Claire. Gene was born on June 29, 1948, in Greeley, Colo., to Harold and LaVonne Wininger. He spent his childhood years in various locations in Northern Colorado and Cheyenne, Wyo. After graduation from Cheyenne East High School in 1966, he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad and Wycon Chemical Plant until he was drafted into the US Army. After basic training and advanced training, he was assigned to an Artillery battery in Vietnam in June 1968 thru Jan. 1970 when he was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. After being discharged, he returned to Cheyenne and to his job at Wycon Chemical Plant.
On May 30, 1971, he married Nancy Atwood. Gene grew up in and around farming communities his entire life. He was truly a farmer at heart and decided to purchase and operate a dairy farm. Their search to farm lead them to Gilman, where he and Nancy owned and operated their “Wis-Win” dairy for 21 years while raising their two sons. He was a driven, hard-working guy who could fix, repair or build whatever he put his mind to. After selling the farm in 1993, and moving back to his home state of Colorado, he was employed by the State of Colorado, Department of Corrections as a dairy supervisor for 18 years. He retired in 2010 and returned to Wisconsin in 2013 to live near the kids and grandkids.
1948-2024
Gene enjoyed wood-working, golfing, gardening, and many outdoor activities. Gene also loved being a “Corvette” guy over the years. He and Nancy enjoyed several Corvette rallies during their retirement years. He especially enjoyed the Indianapolis rally, running the vette around the oval, seeing thousands of beautiful vettes and a 21- mile road trip with 600 Corvettes. Gene and Nancy enjoyed many seasons of being snowbirds to Mesa, Ariz., and many trips to Branson, Mo. and Colorado and Wyoming.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and LaVonne Wininger; and his sister, Darlene Ljungblad of San Diego, Calif. Gene is survived by his wife of 53 years, Nancy; two sons, Nathan (Sissy) of North Ft. Meyers, Fla., and Neal (Sarah) of Eau Claire; four grandsons, Brendon (Bailey), Elliot, Isaac and Abram; one great-granddaughter, Isla. He is survived by siblings, Tom Rick (Sandy), Loveland, Colo., Alyce (Larry) Hendricks, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Sheryl Wininger, Cheyenne, Wyo. He is survived by in-laws, Harry (Millie) Atwood, Annie Wood, Karen (Fred) Javernick, Aaron (Mona) Atwood (all of Canon City, Colo.), Tom (DeVera) Atwood (Penrose, Colo.) and Alita Jaqua (Rochester, N.Y.). He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Services for Gene will be at 11 a.m. on Sept. 21, 2024 at Sheldon Church of Christ, Sheldon, WI. Graveside services will be in Cheyenne, Wyo. at Bethel Military Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnel to Towers or Christian Harbor Youth Camp, Holcombe, WI.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com.
Paid Obituary 156472
