Kenneth “Craig” Winget, 78, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. A visitation will be held at Merle Hay Funeral Home on Monday, March 27 at 10:00am. A service will be held at Merle Hay Funeral Home on Monday, March 27 at 11:00am. Burial will take place after the service at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines, IA.
Craig was born on September 7, 1944, in Des Moines, IA to Kenneth G. and Betty (Perkins) Winget. Craig graduated from Des Moines Tech High School in 1962, attended Grand View College and worked at Firestone before enlisting in the Air Force on July 16, 1965. He married Lorraine McCoy on September 19, 1965, and raised three sons, Paul, John, and Mark. Craig was honorably discharged from the Air Force on January 15, 1969, after reaching the rank of Sargent.
Dad had a kind heart; his generosity and quick wit made him a special man everyone loved being around. He grew up with a fondness for working on and driving flashy cars. In high school he drove a ’49 Chevy. On weekends, his high school buddies and him headed downtown to “scoop the loop”. It was the Des Moines teenager thing to do. He met mom on one of those “scoops of the loop”. It was love from that moment. A few months later Dad enlisted in the Air Force.
After returning from basic training, they married and Dad was stationed at Travis Air Force base in Fairfield, CA. where Paul was born. After one year at Travis, he received orders to go to Vietnam. After his tour in Vietnam, he was stationed in Dover, DE where John was born and where he finished his military service and was honorably discharged. They returned to Des Moines in 1969, where Mark was born, and they settled down to raise their family.
When the family was growing up, taking us on summer vacations in the station wagon and the pull behind camper were some of his favorite memories. He always enjoyed making comparisons between our family vacations and the family vacation movies when he watched them.
He loved being outdoors, it was his favorite place to be. Hunting and fishing with his three boys and his dad. Taking the family on a quick daytrip up to Big Creek Lake on the occasional Sunday for a cook-out pancake breakfast.
Family get-togethers and the holiday times with family and friends were his favorite times of the year. We will miss him when we gather together.
After the family was raised and mom and him began to settle down, they enjoyed taking trips in their motor home, a couple of their favorite trips were to Door County, WI and Branson, MO. He enjoyed collecting beer steins and the evening play time with Max, the cat.
His last words when we left the family gatherings were always, “Proud of You Son,” accompanied with a hug.
“We are Proud to be Your Sons, Dad”.
Thank you for providing such a wonderful life for us and Mom.
All our Love. Until We Meet Again.
Craig is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Betty Winget; and brother, Jim Winget.
Craig is survived by his wife, Lorraine Winget; children, Paul (Teresa) Winget of Johnston, IA, John Winget of Kansas City, MO, and Mark Winget of Des Moines, IA; grandchildren, Brennan (Alex) Eaton, Ross (Jacey) Winget, Sofia and Hudson Winget; brother, Kent Winget; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions for Craig can be addressed to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa via (515) 473-9107 or visiting their website by clicking this link.