Ray D Winz

A Funeral Service for Ray D. Winz will be held on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Pastor Rhonda Wulf officiating. Following the service, Masonic Rites will be provided.

The Funeral Service will be live streamed via the First United Methodist Church's Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Firstunitedmethodistholdrege/videos/1317722888752931

A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Freewater Cemetery in rural Harlan County, Nebraska.

Ray Douglass Winz, 88 years of age, of Holdrege, formerly of rural Ragan, Nebraska, went to dance in Heaven on Friday, July 22, 2022, at Bethany Home in Minden, Nebraska.  Ray was born on May 21, 1934, North of Republican City, Nebraska, in Harlan County, Nebraska, the sixth of seven children, born to William Benjamin and Cora Mae (Barnes) Winz.  Ray grew up on the family farm near Huntley, Nebraska, where he attended grade school.  He graduated from the Ragan High School with the class of 1951 and served with the Army National Guard, in the Reserve Capacity, for nine years.  He was proud to receive his quilt of honor.

Following his education, Ray farmed with his father for several years.  He was united in marriage to Mary "Nadine" Kramer on November 24, 1954, at her parent's home near Ragan.  They were blessed with three children:  Becky, Douglas, and Steven.   The family made their home in Ragan for ten years until Ray took over his parents farming after their retirement.  In 1980, they moved to the farm southeast of Holdrege, and in 2016, they moved into Holdrege.

Ray was involved in many areas of the community, including serving:  as a Master of the Masonic Lodge in Wilcox, Nebraska, and Holdrege, and recently received his 60 year member pin; six years on the Nebraska Farm Bureau Board; as the President of the Nebraska Charolais Association; as a Ragan Wranglers 4-H Club Leader for 20 years; and as the CO-OP President for Ragan and Midland for a total of 19 years.  Ray was also a Federal Land Bank Board of Director, Ragan School Board Secretary, Ragan United Methodist Church; member of the Tri-Basin Natural Resource District Board, for 24 years; and member of Governors Republican River Basin Council.  Ray and Nadine enjoyed participating with Agriculture in the Classroom Program, for 25 years.

In 1964, Ray became the first rancher in the area to raise purebred Charolais cattle.  Through the years, Ray enjoyed farming and ranching with his kids and grandkids. Ray was proud to be a 70-year member of the Ragan United Methodist Church and enjoyed teaching Sunday school.  Ray also enjoyed attending auctions, country music festivals, and dancing the night away with his beautiful wife, Nadine, at the Miller Dance Club for over 40 years.  Ray was very patriotic.  He took Decoration Day and the Fourth of July seriously.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Adolph and Eva (Norman) Kramer; son-in-law, David Grosserode; grandson, Phillip Winz; three brothers: Calvin Winz; Billie Winz and his wife, Erma; and Harold "Mike" Winz and his wife, Mary; sisters, Ruth Eldhardt and husband, Leo; and Evelyn Minnick and her husband, Ralph; one sister-in-law:  Joy Winz; and brother-in-law, John Kramer and wife, Evelene.

Ray is survived by his wife of 67 years, Nadine Winz of Holdrege; daughter, Becky Grosserode of Omaha, Nebraska; two sons:  Douglas Winz; and Steven Winz and his wife, Renee, all of Holdrege; five grandchildren:  Heather Cote and her husband, Lennie of Omaha, and their children:  Jackson, Elijah, and Canaan; Allison Grosserode of Omaha; Michael Winz and his wife, Chelsea of Holdrege, and their children:  Eva, Weston, and Livvy; Gregory Winz and his wife, Chantel of Hildreth, Nebraska, and their children:  Sawyer, Whitney, and Carson; and Garrett Winz and his wife, Kenzie of Holdrege, and their son, Lucas; brother, Ross Winz of Holdrege; one sister-in-law:  Dawn Winz of Springfield, Oregon; brother-in-law:  Roger Kramer and his wife, Connie of Malcolm, Nebraska; along with a host of family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Ray's honor and kindly suggested to the Ragan United Methodist Church, the Phelps County Senior Center, or the Miller Dance Club.

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.