Tony Winberg

Tony Oliver Winberg Our beloved father, brother, and grandfather, Tony O. Winberg, 94, passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 26. Tony brightened the lives of all who knew him with his sharp sense of humor and gentle appreciation for life and love. If he was about to toss a zinger into the conversation, Tony would get a twinkle in his bright blue eyes. He was always delighted to entertain an audience with tales of childhood misadventures or successful hunting trips. Tony loved tinkering with cars, lawn mowers and old machinery and kept an extensive collection of treasures in what his family called his metal patch. Although he no longer farmed, Tony took great pride in his bountiful garden. Tony enjoyed life to its fullest and was always ready for some root beer or extremely hot coffee with pie (especially cherry!) and ice cream. Tony was born November 23, 1913, in Lakeland, Florida, the third of five children born to Swedish emigrants Carl Gustov and Signa (Sandh) Winberg. The family moved to northeastern Colorado when he was around three years old. He grew up helping around the farm, inventing new machinery and experimenting with electricity (to the detriment of the chickens and stray cats!). He worked in Los Angeles, where he fixed gates at the homes of Shirley Temple, Mickey Rooney and Joe E. Brown, before he joined the Air Force and worked on bombers during World War II, fighting the ""battle of Topeka, Kansas,"" where he met and married Grace Holeman in 1944. Tony and Grace farmed in Colorado for a while after the war ended, but Tony spent most of his career working for Gates Rubber Company in Denver. Tony and Grace loved and supported each other throughout their marriage and Tony was heartbroken when Grace lost her battle with breast cancer in 2005. Tony and Grace were blessed with four children, Tony, Bill, Randy and Karla. Tony loved his family with an open and full heart, and he relied on the strength of his friends and family when Tony and Karla were both tragically killed in a short period of time. He and Grace were active members of the Parents of Murdered Children. Tony deeply believed in the Bible's teachings and lived with the support of his faith. He loved unconditionally and was always willing to help anyone in need. Tony will be dearly missed by his surviving family: sons, Bill (Sara Jane) and Randy (Brenda); brother, Ray (Bonnie); sister, Ellen (Bob); grandchildren, Valerie, Summer, Melissa, Ryan, and Nikelle (Shane); and great-grandchild, Mesa. Tony joins his dearly loved wife of 60 plus years, Grace; children, Tony and Karla; and brothers, Lloyd and Earl. As Tony once said: ""Thanks to you all for listening and for the memories. This write up wouldn't rate close to a Pulitzer award—maybe a Tony award.""