Kenneth Edward Winkler

Kenneth Edward Winkler, 93, of Sterling, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Apostolic Christian Home after a brief period of declining health.

Ken was born on Aug. 20, 1931, on the farm that he has resided to Alvin and Estella (Marty) Winkler and was a 1949 graduate of Sterling High School. On May 22, 1959, he married Flora Jane Rickabaugh, and she survives. Ken retired from Dannemiller Electric in 1994 and had farmed since 1972 when he and Flora Jane moved to the family farm.  Ken was a lifetime member of the Ohio Haflinger Association, a member of the American Haflinger Registry and a founding member of the Wayne County Snowmobile Club.  Ken was a 4-H adviser, having served on the Beef Committee and he and the Winkler family had exhibited and showed Haflinger and Draft Ponies at the Wayne County Fair for many years.  In 2023 Ken was acknowledged as being the oldest living exhibitor at the Wayne County Fair.

Surviving is his wife, Flora Jane; his three children, Bob Winkler and his wife, Elaine Koch, Judy Winkler and Jill and Craig Sweeting; granddaughters, Erika and her husband Darren Shultz and Samantha Wagner; great-grandchildren, Deacon, Dane and Delilah Shultz; a brother, Andrew Winkler; sisters and brothers-in-law, Elizabeth and Vernon Landis, Marilyn and Dale Uhler, Marge Rhoads and Brenda and Vic Bauman; sisters-in-law, Mary Jane Winkler, Sandy Winkler and Margie Winkler and many nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Glenn. Ellis, Virgil and his wife Dora, Ben, Stanley and Ricky Winkler; sister, Janet and her husband Darrel Indermuhle and in-laws, Bill Rhoads and Mary Jane Winkler.

Services will be Wednesday, June 18th at 10:30 a.m.  at the Smithville Apostolic Church with Ministers of the Church officiating.  Burial will be in the Apostolic Church Cemetery.  Friends may call Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at Murray Funeral Home in Creston and Wednesday from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. at the church.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Wayne County Fair (for the Buckeye Agricultural Museum) in Care of Tom Stocksdale, Treasurer, 1989 Blachleyville Rd., Wooster, OH 44691 or to the Apostolic Christian Home, 10680 Steiner Rd., Rittman, OH 44270.