Barbara Winkler Merten

Barbara A. Winkler Merten (Koenigs) - Mount Calvary - Age 87, passed away Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, at the Villa Loretto Nursing Home in Mount Calvary with her family at her side. She was born Oct. 29, 1934, in the Town of Marshfield near St. Joe to Walter and Rose (Steffes) Koenigs. Barbara attended St. Joseph Catholic Grade School in St. Joe and graduated from New Holstein High School in 1953. On Oct. 6, 1954, she married James Winkler at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joe. James preceded her in death on May 7, 1988. On Nov. 24, 1989, she married Ernest Merten at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Johnsburg. Ernest preceded her in death on March 13, 2007. Barbara had worked at Blanck’s Supper Club in addition to housekeeping for area clients. She was also involved with running the Winkler family farm until James passed away. Barbara was a member of Our Lady of the Holyland Parish, the Christian Women’s Society, and volunteered with the Villa Loretto Auxiliary. She and her husband, Jim, were former members of the Holyland Snowflyers. Survivors include her five children: Jim (Marianne) Winkler of Fond du Lac, Dennis (Barb) Winkler of Mount Calvary, Bill (Deb) Winkler of rural St. Cloud “Johnsburg,” Patricia Winkler (fiancé, Paul Siekert), of Chilton, and Mike (Robin) Winkler of rural Fond du Lac “St. Peter”; 12 grandchildren: Brittany (Brooks) Fechhelm, Troy (Amanda) Winkler, Jen (Nate) Brandt, Adam Winkler, Samantha (Nathan) Graham, Joe Winkler, Vala Winkler, Heidi (James) Degeneffe, Eric Meyer (Fiancée, Paige), Brody Glynn, Toni Winkler, Nina Winkler (special friend: Dylan); 14 great-grandchildren; four step-children: Sandra (Mark) Fritz, Phyllis (James) Schmitz, Dan (Mary) Merten, and Mary Jo Merten (Lupe Vasquez); seven brothers and sisters: Marilyn Alley, Judy (Eugene) Winkel, John Koenigs, Jackie Anderson (special friend, Gene), Paul (Kathy) Koenigs, Peter (Sue) Koenigs, and Jim Koenigs; brothers-in-law: David Winkler and Larry Merten. Barbara is further survived by nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends. Preceding Barbara in death were her parents: Walter and Rose Koenigs; her first husband: James Winkler; her second husband: Ernest Merten; a granddaughter: Natalie; a great-grandson: Bennett; her father and mother-in-law: John and Irene Winkler; her sisters: Lou Ausloos and her first husband: Walter Kohlmann and her second husband: Tom Ausloos, and Sue Fox; and her brothers and sisters-in-law: Karl Grimes, Roger Anderson, Lee Alley, Lynn Koenigs, Jackie (John) Zimmerman, Adeline Winkler, Hazel (Bob) Blanck Sr., and Mary Merten. A Liturgy Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Our Lady of the Holyland-St. John the Baptist Church in Johnsburg (N9288 County Road W, Malone). Rev. Michael Bertram, OFM Cap will officiate. Inurnment will take place in the church cemetery following the Mass. Visitation: Family and friends may visit with Barbara’s family at the church in Johnsburg on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 10-11:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, plants, other memorial items, a memorial fund will be established in her name. Barbara’s family expresses their heart-felt appreciation to the staff at the Villa Rosa Assisted Living and Villa Loretto Nursing Home for their wonderful care and compassion given to her the past 15½ years. Words cannot express how our family feels. For further information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud 920-999-2291 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.