Owen Van Winkle

Owen Van Winkle, 96, died Saturday, May 31, 2025 at his home. He was born February 18, 1929 in Knox County, Ohio the seventh son of Earl and Margaret Cecile (Mossholder) Van Winkle. Owen graduated from Bladensburg High School in 1948 and started work at Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company in Mount Vernon. In December of 1950 he joined the U.S Army during the Korean War. After his service to his country he entered The Ohio State University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering in 1959. He moved to Battle Creek, Michigan and worked at Post Cereals, General Foods Corporation until 1965 when he took a job at Michigan Carton Company in Quality Control and Production Scheduling. Owen retired in 1992 after 27 years in the paper board business.

On September 22, 1956 he was united in marriage with Mary C. Noffsinger of Knox County, Ohio who preceded him in death. He is survived by two daughters, Margaret Bauman and Emily (John) Keller, both of Grand Rapids; five grandsons, Matthew Bauman and Joshua, Nathaniel, Benjamin and Isaac Keller; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his six older brothers, Clay, Kent, Lake, Carl, Hugh, and Neil.

After Mary, his wife of 54 years, died in 2008 he moved to Grand Rapids. Owen was always very active in the community, especially after retirement. During his years in Battle Creek he was a devoted volunteer offering his time and talents to places such as the First Presbyterian Church, the Food of South Central Michigan, Marian Burch Adult Day Care Center, the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, the Franklin Neighborhood Food Pantry and the HOSTS Program at Ann J. Kellogg Elementary School. After moving to Grand Rapids he continued his service at Westminster Food Pantry, God’s Kitchen, the American Red Cross, Meals on Meals, the Veterans Home, and Kids Food Basket. Owen loved to travel and took many memorable trips with Mary across the world. He also loved reading and watching college basketball. He also enjoyed faithfully attending his grandsons many sporting andmusical events. He was a long time active Presbyterian attending First Presbyterian Church in Battle Creek, and both Eastminster Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids.

The family will receive friends at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 47 Jefferson Ave SE, at 1:00 pm on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The funeral will follow at 2:00 pm, Rev. Janet Carter officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to God’s Kitchen, 303 Division Ave South, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

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