Charles R. Winkelman

CHARLES R. “Charlie” Winkelman , 79, of St. Charles, MO, and formerly of Greenfield, WI, died on Sunday, March 17 at Missouri Baptist Hospital following cardiac arrest.

Charlie was born on October 15, 1944 to Charles and Irene (Condon) Winkelman. He was raised on the family farm in Sussex, WI and attended Richmond Grade School before graduating from Hartland Arrowhead High School in 1963. He served two years in the U.S. Army, from 1965-1967, including a tour in Vietnam.

After his time in service, he began work for Ozark Airlines at the Milwaukee airport as a ticket and baggage handler. When Ozark sold out to TWA, Charlie was given the choice of moving to Missouri in order to work at the St. Louis airport or losing his position. He chose to move. In 1992, Charlie moved to Missouri and lived there until his death. In Missouri, Charlie was a member of the Zion Harvester Lutheran Church in St. Charles.

Charlie was particularly fond of watching football and baseball, but tended to follow more closely the teams from Wisconsin, the Packers and the Brewers. He never did quite warm up to the Chiefs or the Cardinals.

Charlie is survived by two sisters, Marie Schraufnagel, of Hartford, WI and Betty Dygart, of Beloit, WI. He is also survived by sister-in-law, Sandra Winkelman, of Ashippun, WI and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Ralph and William; three sisters, Dorothy Schlafer, Lucille Lemke, and Irene Claas, one sister-in-law, Marcella (Mick) Winkelman, and five brothers-in-law, Wesley Schlafer, Clarence Lemke, Norbert Claas, Paul Schraufnagel and Leonard Dygart.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Evert-Luko Funeral Home & Cremation Services (170 Warren Avenue) Hartland. Family and friends are invited to visit directly at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. Fellowship will follow the service.

Memorial donations in Charles’ name can be made to BadgerHonorFlight.org in support of Wisconsin veteran’s trips to Washington D.C. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.evertlukofuneralhome.com.