Frederick Lester Winterberg

Frederick Lester Winterberg was born August 5, 1923 in Campbell County, North Dakota, but his address was Herried, South Dakota. His parents were Fred and Teina Buss Winterberg. He attended a country school in South Dakota. The family moved to Rockford, IL in 1938 and he attended the Laythem Park School. On March 11, 1943, Lester was inducted into the army at Camp Grant near Rockford. He trained in Fort Jackson, SC and Camp Atterbury in Indiana. He married Bessie Jones on April 23, 1944 in the Nazarene Church in Rockford. In September of that year he was sent overseas and joined the 104th Infantry Division in Europe, the “Timberwolves or the Nightfighters”. He was first scout through Belgium, Holland, and Germany in active fighting on the front line for more than six months. During the Battle of the Bulge he barely escaped capture by the Germans. After V-E Day he was given a 30-day furlough and allowed to come home. He was assigned to go to Japan for the invasion of that country, but the war ended, and he was discharged January 22, 1946 ranking as a Staff Sargent. Following the war, he and his wife farmed for three years in Illinois and then moved to Gillingham, WI on March 1, 1950 where he lived until 2012. In addition to the farm, he owned and operated an excavation and plumbing business. Lester and Bessie were married for 68 years before her passing on September 19, 2011. Lester continued to live on the farm until August of 2012 where his dementia became so severe that he moved in with his son, Dwayne, for six years. July of 2018 Lester became a member of the VA Home in Chippewa Falls, WI where he finally rejoined his loved ones in heaven on November 19, 2020. Many thanks for the staff at the VA for their tender loving care for Lester. Lester says, “Thanks for the cookies!” Lester served on the Gillingham School Board until the district was added to the Richland Center School. He was a member of the Beulah Wesleyan Church and a trustee for many years. He loved hunting and fishing and made the annual trip to Canada to go fishing for over 40 years. His children and grandchildren have continued his tradition/legacy. Lester is survived by his two sons, Bruce (Rose) Winterberg, Dwayne (Debbie) Winterberg, Jim (Pat) Shireman (son-in-law), 7 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in his death: Bessie Winterberg (wife), Connie Shireman (daughter), Fred and Teina Winterberg (parents), Edna Moeller (sister), Martin Winterberg (brother), Melvin Winterberg (brother), Jean Winterberg (daughter-in-law), Michael Winterberg (grandson). Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on November 27, 2020 at the Pratt Memorial Chapel with burial to follow in the Fancy Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held on November 27, 2020 at the Pratt Memorial Chapel from 10:00 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, Lester and Bessie requested people to make donations to the Beulah Wesleyan Church where they both were long time members. They both are eternally grateful for the Church family’s love, support, and prayers. The Pratt Funeral and Cremation Service is assisting the family with their arrangements. prattfuneralservice.com