Harold C. Winchel, 81, of rural Hillsboro, Wis., passed away Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, at Elroy Health Services after a short battle with brain cancer.
He was born Feb. 19, 1938, on the home farm in Monroe County, Wis., to Clyde and Annie (Blaha) Winchel. He spent his early years going to one-room schools; he also attended Kendall High School and graduated in 1956.
On July 12, 1956, Harold was united in marriage to Patricia E. Rollins in Decorah, Iowa. They spent most of their married life living in Vernon County, Wis., in the Town of Forest, at the farm where they made their home for 50 years. They had more than 56 good years together, and they raised eight children. Patricia preceded him in death Dec. 12, 2012.
When first married, Harold farmed and milked cows for Jep Stoddard and worked at Badger Ordnance, Tillman’s in Wilton, the Otis DeWitt sawmill in Ontario, Canning Factory in Hillsboro and Toro in Tomah. He enjoyed horses, auctions, small-animal sales in Kendall, eating out and listening to country-western music. Mostly his life revolved around his family and animals and farm. He was a good husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. In his retirement years, he enjoyed his animals and farm.
Survivors include seven children, Kevin (Melody) Winchel of Hillsboro, Steven Winchel of La Farge, Larry (Geneva) Winchel of San Antonio, Texas, Peggy Winchel (friend Ronnie Nevsimal) of Elroy, Maureen (John) Miller of Hampton, Va., Casey (Emeliza) Winchel of La Farge and Anthony (Brenda) Winchel of Hillsboro; 20 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Mary (Jim) Parkhurst of Elroy, Myrtle (Ben) Melvin of La Farge and Connie Brueggeman of Wilton; and his brother, Frank Winchel of Elroy.
In addition to his wife, Patricia, he was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Jamie Winchel; his daughter-in-law, Rita Winchel; his grandson, John Clyde Winchel; his sisters, Marlene Baldwin, Mildred Olsen, Margaret Eckleberg, Marcella Calhoun and Marlyce Revels; and his brothers, John, Ronald and Richard Winchel.
Funeral services will be at 12 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Burr Wesleyan Church in rural Hillsboro, with Rev. Jason Kirkpatrick officiating. Burial will be in the Forest-Burr Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro is assisting; for online information, go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com.
He was a special man with a generous and caring heart; may he rest in peace.
