Alice Winckler

Alice Virginia Winckler, daughter of Paul and Mary Gruber, was born on November 17, 1920 on the family farm in Locust Grove Township, Fremont County Iowa.  She went to join the Lord  on June 25, 2022 at her home in Zillah at the age of 101 years 7 months. She remained very active until age 100 – driving, gardening, mowing lawn and living on her own. She graduated from Farragut Iowa High School in 1938. She taught school in several one room schools in rural Iowa, then worked on getting her teaching degree while continuing to teach at various schools. She received her Degree in Education from Colorado State College in Greely, Colorado.  She then obtained a teaching job at Franklin Middle School in Yakima , WA While in Yakima she met Oscar Winckler and they were married in 1957 at Grace Lutheran church in Zillah.  They moved to Zillah, WA to farm and lived there for over 60 years.  Mom spent her time being a farm wife, raising 2 children and gardening.  She especially enjoyed being outdoors working in her garden and flowers. She had a life long love of all sports – playing basketball when in high school, teaching PE , watching sports on TV and watching her children and grandchildren play sports. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Zillah. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of Oscar in 2005; sister Lois Dickerson; brothers Harold, Richard and Carroll Gruber. She is survived by her children,  Christy (David) Ivy; Tom (Terri) Winckler all of Zillah;  Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren – Angela (Terry) Wilson and son Justin of Kent, WA; Melissa (Matthew)Turner and children Ember and Bohdi of Tri Cities, WA; Tanner (Shelby) Winckler and children Leighton and Truett of Zillah, WA;  Tierra (Zachary) Awender and children Aubry, Penelope and Hudson of  Mesa, Arizona.  Memorials may be made to Union Gospel Mission in Yakima or Heartlinks Hospice in Sunnyside. Services will be held at Valley Hills Funeral Home, for more details go to valleyhillsfh.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alice Winckler, please visit our flower store.