Kristine Winkelman Obituary

In Loving Memory of Kristine “Kris” Winkelman
October 27, 1954 – June 28, 2025
With heavy hearts and deep gratitude for a life well-lived, we announce the passing of Kristine Marie Winkelman. Kris passed away peacefully on June 28, 2025, at the age of 70.
She was a beloved wife to Theodore Winkelman, a devoted mother to Thomas and Tammy Winkelman, a cherished grandmother to Kylee Kane and Megan Mosgaller, a loving aunt, a dear sister and daughter to Robert and Shirley Schwartz, and a loyal friend to many. A woman of unmatched strength, discipline, and devotion, she left this world as she lived in it—with grit, grace, and a heart full of love.
A true force of nature, Kris was an early riser who believed in the power of hard work and fresh air. She spent her days outdoors, seven days a week, tending to the land she loved and the animals that brought her joy. Her greatest passion over the past nine years was draft horses—especially Mary Jane’s Percherons—majestic creatures she cared for with reverence and pride.
Kris and Ted raised their children on a dairy farm, instilling in them the values of resilience, responsibility, and the quiet strength that comes from a life rooted in purpose—values that continue to echo through generations. Her home, whether on the farm or at Fox Lake, was always a place of welcome, where laughter rang through the barn and lake house alike.
To her granddaughters, nieces, and nephews, she was more than a matriarch—she was a mentor, a protector, and a source of unconditional love. She cherished each of them deeply, celebrating their triumphs and guiding them through life’s challenges with a knowing smile.
Though affectionately nicknamed “The Warden” for her no-nonsense demeanor and unwavering standards, those who knew her best understood that beneath her tough exterior was a heart as vast and generous as the fields she walked.
Her legacy lives on in the lives she shaped, the values she upheld, and the love she gave so freely.
She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.