Louis Winter

Former Hastings resident, Louis Johannes Peter Winter, 88, passed away Monday, May 31, 2010 at Warrensburg, Missouri.

A celebration of Louis's life will be held Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Hastings, Nebraska. A lunch will be served at 5:00 P.M. with the memorial service following at 6:00 P.M. Burial will be in Glenvil Cemetery, Glenvil, Nebraska. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd or donor's choice.

Louis was born May 9, 1922 in rural George, Iowa to William H. & Dorothea (Bahlke) Winter. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Boyden, Iowa. His baptismal verse was Matthew 28:19: "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." He was educated at St. John's Lutheran Day School, he graduated from the 8th grade, working for his father and neighbors, saving to buy his own land. When many of his friends were going off to war, he remained at home to continue food production. He also became engaged to Theora Drewes of Spring Valley, Minnesota, a teacher at the Day School. One Sunday a visiting pastor challenged Louis to be one of 10 young men needed to go to New Guinea to rebuild what the war had destroyed. His applications to the Board of Foreign Missions of the American Lutheran Church, and the county, state, and national draft boards were accepted and on September 24, 1946, Louis left the flax-combining to his brothers and set out by train, ship and plane. Theora followed him and they were married in Lae, Papua New Guinea, on August 13, 1947. For 22 years Louis served with Theora, eventually making their home in Madang. Louis managed a coconut plantation; filled in as printery manager; salvaged, designed, built, and relocated many houses, schools, hospitals, and churches; and serviced and repaired a fleet that included everything from WW2 weapons carriers to VW buses. Their 5 children were born during those years. Louis and Theora returned to the United States and took up residence in Hastings, Nebraska, where Louis was employed by Good Samaritan Village in the maintenance department, and later by Martin Luther Home in their thrift store. As a member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, he served in many capacities. After the death of Theora in 2005, he lived mainly with his daughters in Missouri, enjoying until the end church, family, New Guinea contacts, a good joke, and dinner! Strokes robbed him of his strength, ending his life the morning of May 31, 2010. Throughout his life he prayed confidently each night the German prayer he had learned in grade school: Breit aus die Flűgel beide...In English: "Oh, Jesus who dost love me, oh spread your wings above me, and shield me from all harm. Though Satan would devour me, let angel guards watch o'er me. This child of God shall meet no harm." Had Louis written this postscript to his life, he probably would have closed with the first verse of Psalm 107 with which he had concluded many a devotion: "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; his love endures forever."

Survivors include:
Children & Spouses: Karen (died July 8, 2010) & Ron Schmidt - Modesto, CA
Esther Winter - Warrensburg, MO
Janet Winter - Warrensburg, MO
Ron & Shirley Winter - Hastings, NE
David & Brenda Winter - Sutton, NE
Grandchildren: Ryan & Amy Winter
Sarah Winter
Amanda Winter
Jessie Winter
Philip Schmidt
Erika Schmidt
Great-Grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Whitney, and Elyzabeth Winter
Siblings & Spouses: Martha Winter - IA
Arnold Winter - IA
Ernest & Carol Winter - IA
Robert & Marj Drewes - WA
Fenna Winter - IA
Many relatives & friends