Daniel Winkler

Daniel Felix Winkler died suddenly Wednesday morning, Feb. 6. He was 66. Born in Hammond, IN on July 7, 1952 to Carlos and Catherine Winkler. Dan was the youngest of ten children. He graduated from Hammond's Gavit High School in 1970 and then earned an Associate's degree in Radio and Broadcasting from Vincennes University in 1972. After marrying Debbie Sue Rubrecht in fall of 1973, they moved to northwestern Indiana. They returned to Vincennes in the early 1980s, and Dan worked in radio and then food service. Dan was the Food Service Director for Sodexo at V.U. for over 25 years before retiring.Family called him Danny or Uncle Dan. Friends styled him Wink or Boone. Dan was an accomplished musician, a natural talent. Dan found meaning in life through the fretboard of a guitar. He played in various bands stretching over 40 years. Two of the longest lasting, both with Mike Chappell, were the acoustic duo Aspen/St. Clair and The Scarecrows.To say that Dan was gregarious is to say that a pot is good at holding water. He was a social creature-bear-like, but gentle. As a manager of Aunt Helen's, he once appeased an irate late-night customer by cooking them a ridiculously massive omelet. Once, as a college student, he lived on the Wabash and survived with just a jar of peanut butter. He was often spotted in the summer riding a lawnmower without a shirt on. And it would've been odd to see him not smoking a Kool.Dan was an engaged and active member of the Vincennes community. He was a member of the Freemasons, a member of the Area Planning Commission, a volunteer at the Vincennes Military History Museum, and a member of the Harmony Society.Dan's wife Debbie Winkler, predeceased him by three and a half months. He leaves behind two sons, Kyle and Alex; a daughter-in-law, Katie Winkler; a grandson, Kit Winkler; three living sisters, Sue Randall of Rockville, IN, Rita Holm of Highland, IN, Judie Myers of Hammond, IN; and one living brother, David Lee Winkler of Richmond, IN.Services will be held at Goodwin's Funeral Home in Vincennes, with visitation on Saturday 9-11AM. Memorial service will follow visitation. Graveside service will be held for interment at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital www.stjude.org or the Hungry for Music charity.