Obituary for David E. “Dave” Winnes

David “Dave” Edward Winnes passed from this life into the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, May 21, 2026. He was surrounded by family when he passed.

Dave was born to Walter and Martha (Walck) Winnes on October 12, 1951, in Fremont, Ohio. His family lived in Fremont until 1964, when they moved to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. After graduating high school in Chambersburg, Dave moved to Evanston, Illinois to attend Northwestern University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to take a job at Donaldson Company, where he helped design mufflers for diesel engines, specializing in acoustic testing.

Dave married Janice (Schanink) in 1978, and together they had 7 children while making their home in Bloomington Minnesota. Dave cherished his wife and children above anything else in this life, and this love led him to leave his 24-year career at Donaldson Company to relocate his family to rural Crooked Creek, Minnesota. The move allowed his children to begin fulfilling their dream of operating a family farm. While Dave poured resources into the farm, he continued to work as a mechanical engineer for various companies, including Trane Company in La Crosse. He eventually took a job at Multistack in Sparta, Wisconsin in 2007, where he enjoyed working for the remainder of his life. Dave never retired. In fact, he put in a full day of work just one day before passing from this world.

Dave whole-heartedly served his community of Crooked Creek during his years there. He was a supervisor on the Crooked Creek Township board beginning in 2009 up until his final days. During these years he also worked as an election judge.

Dave was a man of many talents. While he excelled tremendously in his work as a mechanical engineer, and understood acoustics at a level attained by few, his identity was never found in his job. He spent significant amounts of time writing, arranging and playing music. One of his greatest joys was arranging music for his family to sing together. Dave was proficient at multiple instruments, including the French horn, guitar, and piano. During the mid-2010’s Dave was an integral part of the Thankful Brass, a Caledonia/Spring Grove based brass ensemble featuring local talent.

Dave loved Jesus more than anyone or anything else. He was a lifelong student of God's word, and it informed everything he did. He began learning about his Savior as a boy growing up in the Lutheran church. As a teenager he sought a deeper understanding of the gospel, and during his last years of high school he committed hisi life to Jesus Christ, putting his hand to the plow and never looking back. He was baptized as a believer in Lake Michigan on Easter Sunday of 1970 and continued to follow Jesus Christ to the day of his passing. Dave’s love for Jesus influenced every part of his life: his sacrificial love for his bride, his deep care for his seven children, his integrity-filled work ethic, his appreciation for music, and his desire for others to know the saving truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Dave led worship for over a decade at New Testament Church of Eden Prairie, MN, and for the past 28 years at Peace Church of Crooked Creek, MN. He led worship at Peace Church during his final Sunday here on earth.

Dave is survived by his wife Janice; his children Joel (Katie), Rachel (Troy) Sybesma, Rebekah, Jonathan (Anna), Mercy (Leif) Eastvold, and Ben (Abby); and his twelve grandchildren: Caleb, April, Shane, Natalie, Mitchell, Jason, Gabe, Oren, Elaina, Edmund, Rosemary, and Blessing. He is also survived by his siblings: MaryAnn (John) Ashmead, and Don (Lynnae) Winnes and multiple nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son James, his brother Larry, and his parents, Walter and Martha.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 29, 2026, at St. Luke’s Church, Eitzen, MN. After a time of food and fellowship, a private family burial will be in the Peace Church Cemetery in Crooked Creek TWP, MN. A visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Friday. Fredrickson Funeral Home, Caledonia, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be offered to the family at the funeral home website, www.fredricksonfuneralhomes.com.