Margaret M Winkler

Margaret M. "Marge" Winkler, age 93 of St. Peter passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at the Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at the Church of St. Peter in St. Peter with Fr, Phil Schotzko officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, St. Peter. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:30 pm on Monday, May 10 at St. Peter Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:30 pm. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

Margaret Winkler was born on November 5, 1916 in Mankato to Henry and Margaret (Kobel) Ulman. She was the 5th youngest child in the family. She was educated at St. Peter and Paul School, and she began her working career at Johnson's Laundry. She also worked at St. Joseph's Hospital and at the Polei's Deli. During WWII she worked at the US Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA. There, she met Henry Winkler, who also spent the WWII years at the Shipyard.

After the war, Margaret and "Winkie" returned to Mankato, and operated Paul's Place just outside of Mankato on Highway 169. After closing Paul's Place, Henry worked as a construction equipment mechanic and welder for various highway contractors throughout the upper Midwest. During this time, Margaret and "Winkie" lived in several states around Minnesota as they moved from job to job. In the early 1960's, Henry opened a welding shop in St. Peter and Margaret has lived the rest of her life in St. Peter. Margaret has been a lifelong Catholic, and most recently a member of the Church of St. Peter.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband "Winkie" in 1995 , sister: Laurine Cox of Nicollet, brothers: Walter and Vernon Ulmen of Mankato and many sisters and brothers in law.

She is survived by a sister: Eleanor Diedrichsen and sons Bob of Mankato and Rich (Cathy) of St. Cloud; Many nephews and nieces: Geraldine (Lewis() Manderfield of Mankato, Mary Ann (Doug) Garberson of Birmingham AL, Kathy Henning of Prior Lake, Leo (Jeanne) Cox of North Mankato, Tony Ulmen of Mankato, Laverne (Tony) Hoffman of Eagle Lake, Mike Ulmen of Seattle, Steve (Mickie) Ulmen of Mankato, Joann (Greg Pruden) Kopelke of Afton, Mark (Jody) Winkler of Lakeland, Tom (Beth) Winkler of Pennsylvania, John (Carolyn) Winkler of Moorhead, Robert (Audrey) Winkler of Eagle Lake, Mary (Al) Richter of Mankato, Julie (Bill) Wakefield of Mankato and Bill (Pam) Winkler of Mankato; her traveling buddy Dallas Winkler of St. Peter; as well as many great nieces and nephews and many friends in the St. Peter area.

Margaret loved to work and she lived 93 productive years. She enjoyed gardening, playing cards and bingo, watching The Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune. She also loved watching her nephew Blaine bowl and play bocce ball and having coffee with her friends at Heritage Meadows apartments. Margaret's extended family wishes to thank everyone who cared for Margaret these last years of her life at the St. Peter Clinic, River's Edge Hospital and the Benedictine Center in St. Peter.