Ilene Winkel, Glen Elder
July 5, 1947 - May 18, 2021
Ilene Winkel was born in a farmhouse on July 5, 1947 near Scandia, KS. A sister with two brothers in the country, Ilene quickly learned how to be fiercely independent and tough.
Ilene attended a small, one-room schoolhouse near Scandia until she moved to Mankato, KS during the formative years of her life. She played recreational softball and played on the farm with her brothers and friends, further defining her fighting spirit.
Ilene also made her own clothes using the money she earned cleaning homes. Her mother, Veda, let Ilene borrow her prized sewing machine to create these clothes. This began Ilene's love for design and decoration.
After the birth of her three daughters, Ilene worked as a single mother to support and raise strong, independent children. Whatever it was, Ilene made it happen. She put her family first through difficult times and toiled to provide a sense of normalcy amidst chaos.
Ilene married Ray Winkel on July 19, 1996. They met at a divorce support group sponsored by the Friends Church. On one occasion, the group went out for pizza and a drive around the nearby lake. Fortunately, Ray managed to sit in the back seat with Ilene. Much to his dismay, she pulled an enormous pillow out of thin air and placed it firmly between them. It was kind of like Maverick striking out in a scene from Top Gun. He finally got her to go out on a date for his birthday, but he had to fudge the exact date.
The years went by swiftly, but they created so many memories of trips to Colorado, Arizona, Florida, New York, and many other places with family and friends. Whether by camper or by plane, the two of them were always searching for a new adventure in nature. Two highlights of their trips were taking Ilene’s grandson to see the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 and visiting West Point to see her granddaughter graduate on May 21, 2016.
Ray truly believes the Lord brought them together. Ilene took care of Ray day-to-day, and similarly, Ray showed his immense adoration for Ilene even when she became very ill.
Throughout her life, Ilene had an uncanny eye for design and decoration. She constantly made little adjustments here, changed a little color there, and maybe added a different chair to go with that table. This persistence and inability to settle for less was a highlight of her personality. HGTV really missed out on a great opportunity with Ilene, but it seems the Lord has called upon her skills to spruce up heaven a little bit.
Up until the end, Ilene was a fighter. Surviving breast cancer in 1994, lymphoma in 2013, and breast cancer again in 2018, her strength is nothing short of inspiring. Ilene is still a role model to all who knew her. She was stubborn, she was tenacious, and most of all, she never quit. She passed peacefully on May 18, 2021 surrounded by her family. She had earned the right to rest.
She was preceded in death by her father Harlan Elbert Sandell Sr., mother Veda (Mauk) Sandell, twin brother Harlan Elbert Sandell Jr., younger brother Rodney Sandell, and great grandson Jasper Wickham.
Ilene is survived by her husband Ray Winkel, daughter Sandy Albright and husband Jim Albright, daughter Julie Pickle and husband Bryan Pickle, daughter Crystal Downey and husband Scott Downey, son Mark Winkel and wife Chelsea Winkel, and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 10a.m. Monday, May 24 at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City followed by burial in Athens Cemetery north of Glen Elder. A rosary service will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at the church, and visitation will be from 5 p.m. until the rosary service begins.
Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society.
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