Winnie J. Henkel

Winnie J. Henkel, age 90, died Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at her home in Burnett.

Visitation for Winnie will be at Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Funeral services will follow at the funeral home on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be at North Burnett Union Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at Bayside Supper Club in Beaver Dam following the cemetery service.

Winnie Jean Winker was born on July 10, 1934, to the late Clare and Inez (Thiede) Winker. She lived in Lowell for a year before moving to Burnett in 1935. Winnie attended Burnett Grade School, was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in 1948, and graduated from Horicon High School in 1952. After graduation, she began her working life at Heling’s Garage in Burnett. In 1957, she went to work at Kraft Foods in Beaver Dam before going to work for the State of Wisconsin in Madison from 1963 to 1970. It was then Winnie returned to Burnett to help her dad in the tavern business. On May 5, 1973, she was united in marriage with Jerome “Fuzzy” Henkel in Burnett. After Winnie’s father’s death, they purchased the business in 1991.

Winnie is survived by her daughter, Ann Henkel and her husband Clyde Chase of Oscoda, Michigan; and many relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her brother, Allen Winker; and many beloved dogs and cats.

Winnie requested that memorials be made in her name to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

“She left to feed the cats”