Richard Charles “Dick” Winter, PhD

Richard Charles “Dick” Winter, PhD

July 26, 1936 – January 21, 2020

Age 83

Dr. Richard Charles “Dick” Winter died Tuesday, January 21, 2020, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha.

He is survived by wife Shirley; sons Rick Winter and Jamie Winter (Julia); step-children Rick DeBruin (Laura) and Anne Juhnke (Wayne); grandchildren Max, Eva, Evie, Sam, Lauren and Ryan; step-grandchildren Tarrence, Christina, Ty and Devin; step-great-grandchildren Autumn, Tanner, Brycen and Charlie; brothers Bob (Carolyn), David (Brenda), Mike (Suzanne), Tom (Danita) and John (Mary); many nieces and nephews; and beloved dog Jazz.

Dick was preceded in death by wife Ellen; daughter Anne Winter; dogs Clancy, Ebony, Bobbie, and Bob.

Born and raised on the family farm outside of New Hampton, IA, Dick excelled in academics and sports – playing on the high school football, basketball and baseball teams, before he graduated in 1954. He was later inducted into the New Hampton High School Athletic Hall of Fame. After high school, he went on to graduate from Loras College in Dubuque, IA, in 1958 with a degree in history and education– the first person in his family to graduate from college. Dick was also inducted into the Loras College Athletic Hall of Fame after a stellar 16-1 career record where he averaged more than one strikeout per inning for his entire college career as an ace on the Duhawks pitching staff. In spite of offers to play major league baseball by the then St. Louis Browns and Chicago Cubs, Dick decided to pursue higher education, earning a Master’s degree from Creighton University in 1961 and a Doctorate in School Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1966. While attending Creighton, he met his first wife, Ellen Hoben, when they shared a ride back from Omaha to her home in Greene, IA. They were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in 1961 and were together until her death in 2011.

After finishing his graduate education, Dick worked as a school psychologist serving countless administrators, educators and students in a variety of capacities in Des Moines, Dubuque, Council Bluffs, Omaha, Elkhorn, and Gretna, where he retired in 2001. Along the way he coached baseball and softball teams for his three kids. He also coached the Gretna High School Chess team, winning a state championship and placing in the top 5 at State multiple times. After his retirement from Gretna, he continued to help kids by volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for at risk children.

Dick also had many other personal interests. He was well known amongst his many friends as an avid outdoorsman. Some of his great passions included hunting, fishing and snowshoeing – where he was the subject of an Omaha World Herald feature article on the activity in February 1995. Dick shared his love for hunting with others by volunteering to teach Hunter’s Education for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and gun safety courses at Cabela’s over several years. He loved to take his dogs with him hunting and just for walks around the neighborhood or local parks. When Dick wasn’t hunting or fishing, he was hunting and fishing for his golf balls on the links where he was known for his long drives that sometimes went straight. Dick also enjoyed reading autobiographies and books about history and built up a large collection of books over the years.

Dick married his second wife, Shirley, in 2012 and spent 8 happy years together traveling, spending time with family and friends, and winning Halloween costume contests together at their retirement village in Papillion.

A visitation will be held on Friday, February 7th, from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, 12210 South 36th Street, Bellevue. The visitation will be followed by a Rosary and remembrance at 10:00 a.m. A memorial mass will then be held at 11:30 with private burial for family following the mass and a luncheon served for those in attendance.

Memorials: Hunter Education via Nebraska Game and Parks outdoornebraska.gov/support/ or St. Matthew’s Catholic Church Building Fund

5 Comments

  • Marie Posted February 1, 2020 6:06 am

    A beautiful life..RIP.

  • Vern Kuennen Posted February 1, 2020 5:25 pm

    I grew up on a farm outside New Hampton, Iowa, a few miles from the Winter farm. The Winter boys, Dick, Bob, Dave, Mike, Tom, and John, and my brothers and sisters and I, the Kuennens, spent many hours together playing baseball, softball and basketball. I remember Dick, and those years , with much fondness. My condolences to his entire family.
    Vern Kuennen

  • Paula Creps Posted February 4, 2020 3:11 pm

    Dick was a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Sarpy County CASA for 8 years. He made an incredible impact on the youth that he worked with in our community and he will be greatly missed!! Our thoughts and prayers are with his family!

  • Richard Cline Posted February 15, 2020 7:37 am

    I’m not sure what led me to google Doc today, I thought about him last week when I was watching a chess match, so I wanted to find him and reach out.

    Imagine my surprise when I discover this. Doctor Winter had a very large effect on my childhood and ultimately greatly shaped me into who I am today.

  • Richard Cline Posted February 15, 2020 7:37 am

    I went to school in Gretna until I graduated in 2000. Over the years from about 5th grade to graduation, Doc was one my of best friends. He taught me many things, from dealing with issues as a lonely child, to applying myself academically and socially. He taught me chess, which I competed in many tournaments and won several trophies under his tutelage. I also learned hunter safety from him. Mostly what I miss the greatest are just the conversations we would have and the time we spent after school. Doc was a great man, and a true friend, and I am crushed that I waited so long to search for him after moving away. I really wish I could have told him how thankful I am for how much of a positive effect he had on my life. Please, if someone from his family sees this, if Doc was laid to rest, I would very much like to visit him. Please contact me via my email, Rick.cline@gmail.com

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