Shirley Ann Winnecke

Shirley Ann Winnecke passed away Thursday, July 9 at Charlier Hospice Center. She was 80. Shirley was born in Equality, Ill., to Genevieve Dempsey Fink and Lloyd Fink, farmers who descended from Irish and German immigrants. Shirley died after a battle with cancer. She was sustained through the struggle by her friends, extraordinary neighbors, family and church community, and also by her own enduring spirit and spark. Shirley adored birds, traveling, quilting and flowers, especially irises and roses. And she so loved a good glass of iced tea. She was driven by a desire to help others through volunteer work and donations. She read to children at Culver Elementary School and helped out at the Little Lambs organization. Shirley’s interest in politics came late, in 2000 when her son Lloyd, now mayor of Evansville, ran for County Council. Then she began campaigning with the relish of a proud mother and joined Vanderburgh County Federated Republican Women. Shirley always supported her children and their interests. After graduating from Equality Township High School, Shirley attended Southern Illinois University. She moved to Evansville in 1957 to work as a laboratory technician at Mead Johnson & Co. It was then that she was introduced to a co-worker who shared her birthday. Ralph Albert Winnecke became her devoted husband for 55 ½ years, and February 10 took on special meaning for both each year. Shirley later worked as a plating specialist at Faultless Caster Division of Axia Inc., where she cultivated meaningful lifelong friendships. And through membership in Epsilon Sigma Alpha, the service sorority, Shirley met women with whom she would laugh and lunch for many years. Shirley was a devout Christian her entire life. Dedicated to First Presbyterian Church, she was a deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher as well as a leader of Presbyterian Women’s Organization. In addition to her husband Ralph, she is survived by three children, Lloyd Winnecke (Carol McClintock), Joycelyn Winnecke of Chicago, and Lisa Winnecke of Denver, Colo.; sisters, Daisy Drone (Thomas) of Montgomery, Ala., and Barbara Mondy of Rocky Branch, Ill.; grandchildren, Danielle Feagley (Stephen) of Tucson, Ariz., Grace Adee of Chicago; and Anna Rose Winnecke of Denver; great-grandsons, Holden and Oliver Feagley of Tucson; and many nieces and nephews. In celebration of Shirley’s life, visitation will be 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin St. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 13, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church, 609 SE Second St., with visitation preceding at 9:30. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church or YWCA Evansville, 118 Vine St. Her family gratefully acknowledges, in particular, the assistance and support of Dr. Tony Stephens and his team at Oncology Hematology Associates; Dr. Mike Myers and his colleagues; Laverne Jones of Deaconess Visiting Nurses Association; and the expert and kind staff at Charlier Hospice Center.

Shirley Ann Winnecke

February 10, 1935 - July 9, 2015