Winter, Naomi G. (1926-2017)

WINTER, PETERSEN, JACOBSON, THOMSEN

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 7/28/2017 at 20:18:43

Naomi G. Winter
May 10, 1926 - June 22, 2017

Naomi G. Winter, age 91, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Thursday, June 22, 2017, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.

Naomi Geraldine Winter, the only living child of Peter and Emma (Jacobson) Petersen, was born at the family farm home near Stone Bank, Wisconsin, on May 10, 1926. Baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stone Bank, she received her elementary education at the Stone Bank School and graduated from Hartland High School, Hartland, Wisconsin, in 1943.

Naomi’s mother, Emma, died when Naomi was only twelve. Consequently, Naomi, with assistance from relatives, kept house for her father, Peter. Indeed, she was always deeply grateful to her late aunt, Hilda Jacobson, and her cousin, Angeline Jacobson, who, following her mother’s death, cared for and supported her.

After graduating from high school, Naomi attended the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee. Before getting her B.A. degree in music, however, she taught public school music in several rural schools in Waukesha County during the Second World War.

In the fall of 1947, following the death of her father, Naomi enrolled at St. Olaf College, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public School Music in 1951. While at St. Olaf, she met her future husband, Ole Winter. After a year of her teaching music in the public schools of Marshall, Minnesota, Naomi and Ole married on June 21, 1952, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stone Bank, Wisconsin, the same church where she had been baptized and confirmed. At that time, while Ole was a student at Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, they lived in Minneapolis. During Ole’s year of internship in San Diego, California, Naomi served as an organist and choir director at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, a position which she later held in all the churches which Pastor Winter served. Four children were born to their union: Mark, David, Larry, and Kathryn.

Music, always, played an important role in her life, and Naomi used her talents in the area in many ways. While yet in high school, she played the organ at her home congregation. While the Winters lived in California, she, also, gave lessons and trained several organists. The choir she directed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, Iowa, numbered up to fifty members, and they sang many cantatas as well as at Sunday worship services. In addition, she enjoyed volunteering as an accompanist for high school students as they performed at state music contests. In turn, the vocal and instrumental soloists for whom she played praised her ability as an accompanist. Otherwise, employed part-time while living in Forest City, she worked as an office assistant for the Architectural Design Group. Throughout, however, Naomi demonstrated her love and concern for people, especially for her family.

After she and Ole retired to Decorah, Naomi did many types of volunteer work: working in the Decorah City Public Library and playing the piano at nursing homes as well as at many other opportunities at the Decorah Lutheran Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother who died in infancy; and her son, David, who at age 42 died of multiple sclerosis. Naomi is survived by her husband, Pastor Ole Winter; her son, Mark, and his wife, Annette, of Thousand Oaks, California, and their children, Dane, of Denver, Colorado, Haley, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Rebecca, of Thousand Oaks, California; her son, Larry, and his wife, Jane Lee, also of Thousand Oaks, California; her daughter, Kathryn Thomsen, and her husband, Jim, and their daughters, Abbey and Leah, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

Naomi requested that memorials be given to the “Winter Family Endowed Scholarship” at Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern California & Nevada Chapter, 5150 W. Goldleaf Circle, Suite 400, Los Angeles, California 90056, Attn: Julie Kaufer, Chapter President.

A Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 28, 2017, at the Decorah Lutheran Church with Pastors Dave Sorenson and Brenda Crossfield officiating. A private family inurnment will follow in the Phelps Cemetery in Decorah. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 28, 2017, and will continue for one hour before the service at the Decorah Lutheran Church.

Blessed be her memory. Soli Deo Gloria (To God be all the Glory).

Fjelstul Funeral Home, Decorah, Iowa, 2017.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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