Harold "Mike" Winz

Funeral Services for Harold M. "Mike" Winz will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Jamie Strickler officiating.  Interment will follow at the Orleans Cemetery in Orleans, Nebraska, with Military Honors provided by Harold Morin American Legion Post #184 in conjunction with the United States Army National Guard Honors Team.

Harold Michael Winz, 88 years of age, of rural Holdrege, passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at his home.  Harold was born on April 26, 1926, on a farm near Republican City, Nebraska, the fourth of seven children born to William Benjamin and Cora Mae (Barnes) Winz.

Harold, known to his friends as "Mike", attended rural schools in Harlan County and graduated from Huntley High School in 1943.  In his younger years, he enjoyed flying his airplane and riding motorcycles.  He worked as a farm hand for several years while developing his own farm land terracing business.  He worked for four years for the U.S. Corps of Engineers at Harlan County Dam building terraces and planting and cultivating tree belts.  He worked for the J.B. Wheeler harvesting crew, cutting wheat from Oklahoma to Canada and driving the first homemade self-propelled combines to be used in Harlan County.

On September 16, 1954, he was inducted into the U.S. Army.  He served with the 63rd Transportation Company and 556th Ordinance of the 6th Armored Division in Nürnburg, Germany.  While stationed in Germany, he toured England, France, the Netherlands, and the Island of Marken.  He had his own car and acquired 5 military driver's licenses allowing him to drive all wheeled vehicles in Europe plus a private German citizen license.  He shot Expert with the M-1 Garand and Carbine and received the Good Conduct Medal.  Upon discharge on August 6, 1956 he bought a farm west of Ragan, Nebraska.

On March 17, 1958, he was united in marriage to Mary Maxine Greening of Bloomington, Nebraska at the United Methodist Chapel in Holdrege.  They settled on their farm west of Ragan where they lived and farmed for 56 years. To this union two children were born: a daughter Rhonda Jane and a son Kelly Gregg.

Mike was an expert mechanic, welder and electrician, making several pieces of his own farm equipment.  He greatly enjoyed his hobbies of collecting antiques and farm primitives, one-cylinder gas engines, antique tools and wrenches, barbed wire and fencing tools, and especially working on Model T Fords.  One of his greatest joys was driving his 1926 Model T Ford Touring car in small town parades and festivals.  He loved attending swap meets and steam engine shows with his friends.  He was a charter member of the Spark Plug Collectors of America, a charter member of the Kansas State Crankers chapter of the Model T Ford Club of America, and a Lifetime Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  He served for several years on the township board and the county ASCS committee.  He served as president of the Enterprise Telephone Company and helped to establish the first dial telephone system west of Ragan.  Mike loved old-time mountain string music, and he and his wife enjoyed their annual trips to Mountain View, Arkansas, celebrating their 30th year there in the fall of 2005.

Although Mike did not belong to an organized church, he was a Christian.  He was baptized on September 18, 2014.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Mary on May 2, 2014; two brothers: Calvin and Bill Winz; sister, Ruth Eldhardt; brothers-in-law: John Greening, Lloyd Greening, Leo Eldhardt, Ralph Minnick, and Alfred Frerichs; sister-in-law, Donna Greening; and niece, Kari Frerichs.

Mike leaves to mourn his passing his son, Kelly Winz of Ragan; daughter, Rhonda Kruger and her husband, Ronald, of rural Holdrege; three grandchildren: Rebekah Jane, Andrew Michael, and Sarah Rachel Kruger all of rural Holdrege; brothers: Ross Winz and wife, Joy of Holdrege, Ray Winz and wife, Nadine of rural Holdrege; sister, Evelyn Minnick of Franklin, Nebraska; sisters-in-law: Dawn Winz of Springfield, Oregon, Erma Winz of Kennewick, Washington, and Harriet Frerichs of Minden, Nebraska; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Mike's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.