June Winsor

There are some who view their role as a mother to be rather mundane and unrewarding, but nothing could have been further from the truth when it came to June Winsor as she viewed being a mother to be both her highest calling and her greatest blessing. It only grew sweeter when grandchildren joined her family as there were simply more people to love and nurture. Blessed to spend more than 60 years with the love of her life, June and her husband exemplified what marriage is truly intended to be. Life will never be the same without her here, but the memories she leaves behind will be a lasting treasure for generations to come.

As the 1930s dawned in America we hunkered down for what would be some of the most difficult days our nation would ever see. The Great Depression was in full swing, leaving countless Americans without work in its wake. With an unemployment rate that soared above 25 percent, cities, communities, and families came together and did what they could to weather the storm. Despite the hardship around them, a young couple from Northville Township, Michigan, was overjoyed to welcome a healthy baby girl into their hearts and home on June 22, 1932. June Jeanette was the youngest of three children born to her parents, Ellis and Edith (Johnson) Avey, and was raised in the family home alongside her older brother, Bruce, as her older sister died before June was born. She was a rather quiet girl who had a few close girlfriends rather than a larger group of casual friends. June moved to a farm west of Middleton when she was about 13 years old, and she attended Middleton Schools. School was never something she enjoyed, rather something she endured out of necessity. Roller skating was an activity June did like while she was growing up.

Life was forever changed for June when she met the young man with whom she would share a lifetime of love. His name was Carl Winsor, and they met in a roundabout way when they both wanted to go to the Ionia Fair. The only way his parents would let him go to the fair, however, was if he took his sister and her friend, too, since they wanted to go also. Carl agreed, and this is how he ended up meeting June as she was his sister’s friend who tagged along. Shortly after their visit Carl called and asked her out for a date, and they were together ever since. Their first official date marked the first date for them both, too, as neither of them had ever been out with anyone else before. The couple enjoyed going to the movies and roller skating at the Crystal Lake Roller Rink in Crystal Lake in Montcalm County.

After graduating in 1950 Carl was drafted into the Army, but since spending eternity with his sweetheart was never far from his mind they made plans to marry. They exchanged their vows in January of 1951, and Carl headed to basic training at Fort Riley in Kansas. Shortly after, June followed and since she was not allowed to live on base, June moved to Junction City, Kansas, with a friend until Carl finished his basic training program. He was deployed right after completing his training, so June went home to stay with her parents to await for her husband’s safe return. At the time she headed back to Michigan, June was three months pregnant. Carl was overseas when their first daughter, Donna, was born. In fact, she was 17 months old before he saw her for the first time.

When the family of three was reunited they moved to Maple Rapids, Michigan. June endured seven moves over the next thirteen years and welcomed four more children, and then they returned to Maple Rapids. June and Carl welcomed two more children during the thirtysix years they lived in Maple Rapids. Since Carl regularly traveled for work the bulk of the parenting duties fell on June’s shoulders. She was a good listener, but she also wasn’t afraid to pass out a spanking when needed. There was also her favorite phrase, “Just wait ‘till your father gets home!” June ran a tight ship, too, as her children were all required to do chores in order to keep the family running, and they were never allowed to argue with her either. Everything that came out of June’s kitchen was fantastic, which was something her family always appreciated. June thought is was very important to teach her daughters to cook, bake and sew and thought it important to pass that skill down to her girls. Although there were always plenty of responsibilities at home, June made the time to take her children on memorable trips while they were growing up.

In 2000, they relocated to Riverdale, Michigan where June would spend the rest of her life enjoying her natural surroundings.

Although June focused most of her time on caring for her husband and children, she did enjoy a few interests. Her faith always played an important role in her life, and together with her husband she was a member of the Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church for over 40 years. June was also a member of their women’s fellowship. She wasn’t overly outgoing, but did like spending time with a few close friends. After Carl retired and their children moved out June loved traveling with her husband, and together they went to every state in the entire United States. When relaxing she enjoyed knitting, and through the years she knitted each one of her 23 grandchildren their very own afghan.

During her sunset years June began to struggle with some health problems. She dealt with heart valve issues, and although she needed special care June was able to remain in her home with her beloved husband.

There were so many things that made June Winsor such an extraordinary woman. Together with her husband she raised seven fantastic children who were her greatest pride and joy. Although she was very sensitive and didn’t like confrontation, June didn’t take any guff from her children either. She loved being a mother, but just may have argued that being a grandmother was the role of a lifetime. The timeless legacy she leaves behind will be proudly carried on by the generations who follow her.

June Jeannette Winsor died on Monday, June 11, 2012. June’s family includes her husband, Carl; children, Donna (Larry) Bongard of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Daniel (Loretta) Winsor of Maple Rapids, Richard (Nadine) Winsor of Baker City, Oregon, Linda (Donald) Blair of Carson City, Jeannette (Michael) Biehl of Perrinton, Christine (Brent) Lewis of Alpena, Steven (Diana) Winsor of Alamogordo, New Mexico; 23 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; many brothers and sisters in law as well as many nieces and nephews. June was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Bruce Avey.

A memorial service will be held 12:00 p.m., Saturday, June 16, 2012, at Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church with Pastor Jerry Kissling officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. prior to the service. Memorial donations may be made to the Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church.

To learn more about June please visit her personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/81157.