Vallie L. Winch, 86, Dickinson, died Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at his home. Vallie’s funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 10, 2012 at St. John Evan. Lutheran Church, Dickinson, with Rev. Cal Oraw officiating. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Dickinson. Military honors will be provided by the Dickinson Honors Team following the funeral. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church. The family will be present at the funeral home on Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., to greet and share memories with friends.
Vallie Lou Francis Winch was born February 6, 1926 on the family homestead near Garber, Iowa, the son of Ernest and Rebecca (Thein) Winch. He was drafted into the United States Army and served honorably from August 1951 to July 1953. Upon his discharge he moved back to Iowa and met Renata Trumm and they were married on November 10, 1953, in Boscobel, Wisc.
They farmed on the homestead until his health forced them to move, settling in Dickinson in 1965. Vallie worked at the Western Livestock Exchange and Dickinson Cheese Plant. Following retirement he could not sit still, so he went to work delivering the paper and the advertiser, and also mowing grass for the Dickinson Parks & Rec Department. He was always picking up pop cans, loved to make things out of wood, and making afghans, which he shared with his family. He was a Jack-of-all-trades and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
Vallie loved the great outdoors, fishing and camping with family and friends. He enjoyed his time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and his faithful companion Lady (the dog) who stayed at his side to the end.
Vallie is survived by his wife, Renata; six children, Kenneth Winch, Dennis (Deborah) Winch, Jeff Winch and Timothy Winch, all of Dickinson, Luann Winch, Dickinson, and Phyllis (Allan) Jassek, Gillette, Wyo.; seven grandchildren, Kayleen (Tait) Obritsch, Katrina (Sheldon) Sivak, Kenny (MaKenzie) Winch, Daphne (Matt) Hecker, Dena Winch, Jessica Jassek and Janet Jassek; 13 great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Bernice Winch, Guttenberg, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, and five sisters.
