Obituary of Henry "Hank" Collins Winters
WINTERS: In sorrow, we acknowledge the passing of Henry “Hank” Collins Winters of Grand Bend, Ontario on Sunday, March 18, 2018 in his seventy-seventh year. Hank spent his last days in the company of his family and many friends, under the superb care of the Palliative Care Team at Bluewater Health in Sarnia, Ontario. Beloved husband, for fifty-three years, of Nancy (Edwardson) Winters, Hank is also survived by his children Elizabeth (David Matheson) and Philip (Gail Winters) and four grandchildren: Lauren Cummings Winters, William Matheson, Kaydence Matheson and William Henry Winters. Elder son of the late Eleanor (McRobie) Winters and the late Honourable Robert Henry Winters P.C. Brother of Marny (Marc Pearsall) of Toronto and the late Richard Winters.
Hank considered the world his home and steel his industry. But he was happiest as a child in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, where he loved the smell of the sea. In his retirement he was thrilled to discover something of that same delight in Grand Bend, with its legion of friends, volunteer opportunities, dazzling beach and three entirely new pursuits which he passionately embraced. He learned to sing barbershop with the Seaforth Harmony Kings; achieved a black belt in Karate at the age of seventy-five; and swam his way to a gold medal at the Ontario Masters championship. Even when his illness was most challenging, he always focused his attention on concerns outside himself, mostly to the benefit of his family.
A supremely thoughtful man, Hank hated to miss a meeting of the Red Bowl Society of philosophers. He was proud to catalogue his reading and his list reveals a selective and significant personal library. It was his final comfort to listen to his family reading to him the story of a round-the-world motorcycle adventure, one of his few unrealized ambitions. We now reluctantly release him to a grand new adventure, fueled by our gratitude and his own smiling enthusiasm.
On Sunday, April 8, 2018, the family will host a gathering of remembrance for Hank at Oakwood Resort, Grand Bend, at two o’clock p.m. A private family interment will be arranged in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia in the fall. If desired, memorial donations (payable by cheque) to Lakeshore Eco-Network would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to the T. Harry Hoffman & Sons Funeral Home, Dashwood.
