Daniel Emmitt Winker, firstborn son of Daniel Edward Winker Sr and Eileen Rose Doherty Winker was born on April 26, 1948. Dan passed away on Monday, October 12, 2026 at home in Monroe, WI with his life’s love Kathi at his side.
He was preceded in death by his son, Justin in 2011; his parents, Dan Sr. and Eileen; brother-in-law, Dale McKnight in 2025; father-in-law, Thomas E Whalen; special uncles, Patrick Doherty and Fred Winker; as well as other aunts and uncles; and niece, Lindsay Rae Nyffenegger.
He is survived by his wife, Kathi; sister, Kate; bonus daughter, Heather (Jay Ford); grandchildren Mason and Harper Gunagan; bonus sons, Zachary Byrne and Logan (Joy) Powers Byrne; Goddaughter and niece, Tara (Chris) Repplier; and nieces and nephews, Alexandra, Ryan (Kelly) McKnight and Ava, Cortney (Shane) Lieberg and Riley.
Minneapolis was home for Dan until the Army/Air Force took the young Winker family to Waverly, Iowa, then to Apalachicola, Florida and back to Minneapolis at the end of Dan Sr’s military service. The family, now plus Kathy Ann moved to Canoga Park, CA when Dan Jr was 5, as the aeronautical industry took off in the California Valley. Dan’s young life included climbing hills in Canoga Park with friends to peek at movies being filmed, playing catcher in Little League, following his Dodgers on the radio in the laundry room and swimming lessons in the swimming pool where Laurel and Hardy use to live. Sunday mass included sitings of Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke and catechism with “the Beav” from Leave It to Beaver. The Winkers shared the grocery store aisles with Zoro, and sitings of Ozzie and Harriet and the boys on Alvero Street. Movies and the actors in them were always a fun part of his life.
As a child, weekends included adventures to national parks and the missions of California. Summers included more national parks and family trips back to Minnesota. Age 16 brought a permanent move back to Minneapolis and high school at Benilde Saint Margaret where Dan played football, baseball and threw the shotput in track. He worked at his dad’s gas station, deepening his love of cars. College started at St. Thomas University, the same year he started working for his uncle Patrick at AAA Auto Club. He later transferred to his alma mater, the University of Minnesota where he completed his master’s degree in Psychology and Anthropology. He continued on with AAA through 2000, working in international travel, AAA Minnesota and in 1987, he and Linda along with Heather and Justin, drove 2 cars filled with their life possessions on the Alaskan Highway to establish the first AAA in Alaska. The 10-day drive included daily diary entries which were included as the first AAA Alaska Newsletter. In Alaska, he found his love of hockey, managing Justin’s teams for many years.
Dan’s young adult days included time on the dance floor where lifelong friends met at Peabody’s or sister Kate’s Saloon to celebrate this time in life. Bruce (Beth) Abrahamson, Spencer Johnson, Jeff (Lisa) and Steve Anderson, Mark (Becky) Michaels ended up as life-long friends, after many years together at AAA. Al (Francee) Jablonske joined the group at Peabody’s. Trips out west to Cheyenne Frontier Days and Charlie Daniels memories were some of the most cherished by Dan. Throw in a 30th birthday kiss from Ursula Andress while managing tour guides in Munich, Germany and life was so good.
In 2003, graduating to the use of email, Dan started on his adventure to find the love of life, little knowing this nationwide search would end up in Wisconsin, with a hardy Green Bay and Wisconsin sports fan. Dan and Kathi Whalen Byrne were married October 21, 2005 after meeting on e-harmony and determining this season of life was going to be their best and would include travel and adventure.
No one was more surprised than Dan when in 2025, he realized he had lived longer in Wisconsin than any other place in his life. As the saying goes, a sign of a successful life is when you leave items behind on your bucket list. Well done, Dano.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Victor’s Catholic Church of Christ the King Parish in Monroe with Father Garrett Kau as celebrant.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 9:00 AM until 10:45 AM at the church. The rosary will be prayed prior to Mass at 10:45 AM. Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at: shgfuneralhome.net.
