Rev. James Anton Winters

The Reverend James A. Winters went to be with God on August 1, 2023 at the age of 85 and just sixteen days before his 60th wedding anniversary to wife, Suzanne. Jim was born to Jacob and Helen Winters in Mountain Lake, MN on October 1, 1937, and raised, the youngest of four boys, on a farm in nearby Bingham Lake. He attended a one-room schoolhouse during his early years and graduated in the Class of '55 from Mountain Lake High School. Spring of 1959 saw Jim earn a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science/ Minor in English from Anderson College in Indiana. He did his graduate work at the Oberlin School of Theology in Oberlin, Ohio, eventually obtaining a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University when the two programs merged. In 1984, he would take the family on a Sabbatical to California where he did Doctoral studies at The Claremont School of Theology. While at Oberlin, he met Suzanne Kimes whom he married August 17, 1963. From this union were born four children: David Carroll (March 6, 1967-March 7, 1967), Richard Erik, Elizabeth Ann "Lisa," and Stephen James. He was greatly beloved as a husband and father. Jim's favorite avocation was photography which captured the many good times this family had, especially from the various interesting trips he took them on through our vast, beautiful country. Jim had a newspaper column called "Just So" and wrote, directed, and starred in a play entitled "The Riverboat Follies" while at Anderson College. He would joke that sometimes he forgot his lines during play practice even though he had written the script! Jim founded the Douglas County Camera Club, was a member of Rotary, acted in several community productions through the Alexandria Area Arts Association, and directed the church youth in many a touching Christmas performance. He had a gift for bringing out the best in young and old alike. Through kindness and understanding, he forged many beautiful relationships, visited numerous parishioners in need, and was well liked by all who knew him. In his sermons and conversation, he had a gift for explaining the profound understandably. Both his children and grandchildren have fond memories of playing basketball and watching sports with Dad/Grandpa. Jim and Sue enjoyed almost daily games of Scrabble and a weekly, computer version of the game with son Steve and friends "McHugh" and "Bogda." In his retirement, Jim looked forward to weekly Wednesday morning breakfasts with other former pastors in the Indianapolis area. Jim was an avid reader his entire life even as his eyesight almost completely failed him. As his field work at Oberlin, Jim served a United Brethren Church in Ceylon, Ohio, and also spent a summer serving various congregations throughout the Hawai'ian Islands. After graduation, he and Suzanne moved to Hopkins, MN where he served at Mizpah Congregational until 1967 and then to Alexandria, Minnesota where he shepherded the First Congregational United Church of Christ for 21 years (until 1988) and where all their children were born. Their family moved to Arlington Heights, Illinois where Jim led St. John's UCC for eight and a half years before accepting the call to pastor Faith UCC in Indianapolis, Indiana, which he served for four years before his retirement. While at St John's, Jim officiated at the marriage of his daughter, Lisa, to Richard Milon Dujmovic, Jr. Lisa and Rich gave Jim two grandsons, David Richard Dujmovic and Jacob Milon George Dujmovic. The last service Jim would perform would be the marriage ceremony of Jake to Reilly Sue Geistfeld in August of 2022. Jim had also officiated at the marriage of son, Stephen, to Svitlana Filonik in Morley, Alberta, Canada, from which union he would become grandfather to Charlotte Elizabeth "Lottie" Winters. When asked from where his remarkable knowledge of the Bible came, he would credit his mother reading him Bible stories when he was a child. True to his Mennonite heritage, Jim was conscientious in his work and always dependable in his home life. He will be greatly missed, but his wonderful spirit will inspire us through the years. Jim stoically led the funeral services of both of his parents, his three brothers (Leslie, Kenneth, and Clarence) as well as sisters-in-law Ruby and Eloise. During Clarence's funeral, Jim recalled his older brother waiting for him at the school bus stop to walk him home each afternoon. He remembered it gave him great comfort to know Clarence would be there waiting for him back then and had a feeling that Clarence would once again be waiting to walk him Home when it was his time to join their family in Heaven. ___________________________________________ SERVICES: A Funeral Service will be held Monday, August 14th at 11:00am (visitation 10:00am) at Holcomb-Henry-Boom-Purcell Funeral Home, 515 Hwy 96 West in Shoreview, MN. A Graveside Service will be held Tuesday, August 15th at 3:00pm at Delft Cemetery, 49314 Co Rd 3 in Windom, MN Livestream of service available at https://youtube.com/live/tdT4AAUeZ1A?feature=share In case anyone wishes to honor Jim with a charitable gift, one of his favorite non-profits was Habitat for Humanity.

Tributes

Rev. James Anton Winters

October 1, 1937 - August 1, 2023

Tributes

Rev. James Anton Winters

October 1, 1937 - August 1, 2023

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