Frank & Bright Funeral Home

Raymond Winka

Dec 17th, 1929 - Dec 29th, 2019

   Raymond “Ray” R. Winka, age 90, of Flora, Illinois, passed away early Sunday morning, December 29, 2019.

   He was born December 17, 1929, in Flora, the son of Theodore and Mary (Rozanski) Winka.  He was united in marriage to Irene V. Anderson on January 14, 1961, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Flora and they have shared 58 wedding anniversaries together.

   Ray was a graduate of Flora High School and served in the Army during the Korean War.  He worked at J.C. Borah Motor Sales, Sparton Manufacturing, First National Bank, and retired from World Color Press in Effingham after 23 years.  He was an active member in his church, St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, and was a 4^th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus for years.

   He was an avid sports fan and loved coaching his son’s ball teams.  He also loved watching his Chicago Bears, Fighting Irish, and the St. Louis Cardinals.  He was known for his love of gardening and raised strawberries for many years.  He loved the outdoors and spent a lot of time teaching his sons to hunt and fish and enjoyed his fall trips to the river with his daughter looking for hickory nuts.   

   He is survived by his wife: Irene Winka of Flora; 5 children: Mike (Tina) Winka of Flora, Debbie Keller of Olney, Mark (Janet) Winka of Xenia, Tracy Winka of St. Louis, MO, and Brent Winka of Flora; 8 grandchildren: Lindsay Keller Andrews, Josh Winka, Matthew Winka, Hailey Winka, Ryan Winka, Nicholas Winka, Brooke Winka, and Jordan Winka; and 3 great-grandchildren: Keller, Harper, and Nora, with a 4^th on the way.

   He was preceded in death by his parents and 13 siblings, with one surviving sister, Lucille Winka, in Littleton, Colorado.

   Ray was loved by everyone who met him and always had a story to share.  He will be deeply missed.

   Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8: 00 p.m. Friday evening, January 3, 2020, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora, with a Rosary Service to begin at 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass is to be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2020, at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Flora, with Father Charles Anyaoku and Father James Nall concelebrating.  Burial will follow in St. Stephen Cemetery with the presentation of military funeral honors.  Memorial donations are suggested to Clay County Cutters and Strutters JAKES event or Clay County Cancer Crusaders and will be accepted through the funeral home.