Bill Winkler, age 58, of Schaller, Iowa died on Saturday, February 02, 2008 at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Schaller with Father Larry Burns officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with military rites by the Schaller VFW. The arrangements are under the direction of Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller.

Visitation will be from 2-8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 4, 2008 at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Schaller, where the family will be present from 6-8:00 p.m. There will be a parish vigil service at 7:30 p.m.
    
William Lee Winkler was born on December 3, 1949 in Storm Lake, Iowa. He was the eldest child of nine children born to Wilma Jean Hummel and Robert Edward Winkler.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Schaller, Iowa.  As a child, Bill loved helping his grandfather farm and in 1959, he moved to William (Bill) and Alma Hummel’s farm.  Bill graduated from Schaller High School in 1968.
    
In August 1968, he joined the Marines and served in Vietnam.  He was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant in 1970. 
    
On January 22, 1971, Bill was united in marriage to Janet Lee Boltz in Cherokee, Iowa.  The couple raised five children:  Billie Jo, Jennifer, Amy, Sarah and Robert. 
    
Bill worked at farming related jobs including: J.D. Machines, feed salesman, corn shelling and semi-truck driving for Clarence Hansen and Gary Dietering.  Bill was also a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and VFW Post 4704 in Schaller, and AMVETS Post 66 of Storm Lake.
    
In 2002, Bill’s dream came true when a good friend, Gene (Red) Huelman let him farm his land.  With the help of Gene and Steve Schaefer, Bill started farming at the age of 52.  He was very proud to live out his long-time dream.
    
Bill is preceded in death by his twin sons, Mathew and Michael Winkler, his parents and grandparents.
    
He is survived by his wife, Janet, and children: Billie Jo and Todd Heth of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jennifer and Robert Atkins II of Stafford, Virginia, Amy and Justin Schlafer of Alta, Iowa, Sarah and David Werneburg of Schaller, Iowa and Robert Winkler of Schaller. Bill also has seven grandchildren who loved their “Papa”: Elizabeth Atkins, Alex and Dane Schlafer, Kayla and Sabrina Werneburg and Kennedey and Kaydyn Winkler.  Bill is also survived by his siblings: Jim Winkler, Jeanette Holstein, Cindy Baker, Wendy Wandrey, Virginia Truemper, Patty Postolka, Kenny and Lenny Winkler.