Patricia A Wininger Obituary (2014)

A memorial service for Patricia Ann Wininger age 60 of Blair will be held at 10:00AM Friday September 26, 2014 at Country Bible Church. Visitation will be held Thursday September 25, 2014 with family receiving friends from 5:00 to 8:00PM at Campbell Aman Funeral Home in Blair. Patricia went home to her Lord on September 23, 2014 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha after a hard fought battle with breast cancer. Patricia Ann (Francois) Wininger was born on September 25, 1953 the daughter of Robert Francois Sr. and Bernadette (Schreiner) Francois in Nebraska City. She was raised there with her 8 brothers and sisters. She attended Lourdes Central High School and graduated in 1971. Patty attended Wayne State College where she was a member of Chi Omega, the Wayne State Wildkitten dance squad and later, a WSC cheerleader. She was an excellent student and was involved in many campus clubs and activities. She finished her business degree at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Patty met her husband of 39 years at a dance at Peru State College. Darrell transferred to Wayne State shortly afterwards and they were married on July 4th, 1975. Patty worked in the banking industry until 1984 when she took on her favorite job of all, a full-time mother. She stayed at home with her daughter, Elizabeth and her son, Nicholas. Patty was the CEO, CFO, accountant and taxi driver for the Wininger household and all of their friends. Patty loved her family and friends and had a spiritual gift for hosting. She was an avid sports fan with the dial always set to sports talk radio. She held season tickets for the Creighton Bluejays soccer, baseball, basketball and volleyball teams. She also loved Husker football and volleyball. Patty loved traveling with her family. She had visited 20 countries with her husband, but she mostly enjoyed traveling to see family in Texas, Florida, Illinois and California. Her family was the most important thing in her life. She was known by her nieces and nephews for her love of fireworks and the 4th of July. She also had a reputation for sending the craziest Christmas presents, including marshmallow shooters, ping pong ball guns, and cotton candy makers. Patty had a generous heart. She loved people and animals. She fed birds, squirrels, turkeys, deer and raccoons. She was known for volunteering her time often for others. She volunteered at the Blair schools as room mother over the years, Fine Arts Boosters, Red Cross, Cub Scouts, Blair Soccer Club, and the Blair Area Community Foundation. She volunteered at Creighton University on the Parent Council for 5 years, serving as the president for one. Patty loved her Lord with all her heart. She had a servant’s heart and tried her best to show the love of Christ to all people. She knew no strangers, just friends she hadn’t met yet. She is survived by her husband Darrell of Blair, daughter Lizz (Brian) Abrahams of Blair, son Nicholas (fiancée Kathryn Buche) of Denver, Co, granddaughter Adelle Abrahams, mother Bernadette Francois of Bangs, TX, brothers and sisters; Robert (Kathleen) Francois Jr. of Ft. Myers, FL, sister Mary Francois of San Antonio, TX, sister Michelle Thomas of Brownwood, TX, sister Vickie (James D.) Rice of Trickham, TX, Michael (Cindy) Francois of Bangs, TX, Mark (Judy) Francois of Nebraska City, NE, Tammy Francois of Brownwood, TX, brothers and sisters in law; Dennis (Allyson) Wininger of Oakland, CA, David (Ruth) Wininger of Papillion, NE, Melody (Phil) Parman of Allen, TX, Dwight “Doc” (Kathy) Wininger of Lincoln, NE, many nieces and nephews, and dear friend Mary Lyn Wininger of Johnson, NE. She was preceded in death by her father Robert Francois Sr., sister Diane Schalk, grandmother Elizabeth Schreiner, father in law Darrell Wininger Sr. and mother in law Ardith Wininger. Memorials may be directed to Joseph’s Coat or the Blair Area Community Foundation.