Catherine "Kay" J Winberg
Catherine “Kay” Jane Winberg age 96, formerly of Menomonie, Died Monday November 18, 2013 at Presbyterian Homes in Arden Hills, MN.
Kay was born October 18, 1917 in Hudson, WI, the daughter of William and Emily (Thomas) Kirk. She was raised in Hudson, WI until 1929 when the family moved to Menomonie. Kay attended Menomonie Central High School and Stout University from 1929-1939. She graduated from Stout with honors in Home Economics in 1939. Kay taught Home Economics and Phy-Ed at Lodi High School for one year. She then took a job as home management supervisor with the Farm Security Administration in Ellsworth. Kay met and married Ralph Winberg in 1943 in Menomonie. Kay then accepted a position with the Extension Service as a Home Agent, working with Homemaker and 4H Clubs while Ralph was in the service. In 1953, they purchased a mortuary and furniture business in Ellsworth, where Ralph had been employed before WW II. Kay worked with her husband in the business and raised their family. Besides working with her husband, Kay also taught Sunday school, helped with Girl Scouts, took active roles in women’s church groups and Eastern Star. She also substitute taught in the Home Economics Dept. at the high school. In 1963, they built a new funeral home and sold the furniture store. They operated the funeral business until they sold it in 1976, and a month later Ralph died. After a few years, Kay moved back to Menomonie where she was active in the First Congregational Church, P.E.O., Interfaith Care Givers, Myrtle Werth Hospital Auxiliary, traveling with friends and spending winters in Florida. In 2005, Kay moved to Presbyterian Homes, Eagle Crest in Roseville and later to Johanna Shores in Arden Hills, MN where she has remained the rest of her life.
Kay is survived by her two children, James (Leonore) Winberg of Little Canada, MN; a daughter Karen(William) Hanley of Raleigh, NC; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Comes of PA; Ross (Ann) Winberg of MN; Whitney (Brian) Townsend of MI; Victoria Hanley of Raleigh, NC; Catherine (Matthew) Houching of Raleigh, NC; great grandchildren, Abby Comes, Dagny Winberg, Ashley & Lauren Houching, Riley Hanley, Linnea & Petra Townsend and other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a sister, Louise Weinkauf; three brothers, Robert, John and David Kirk.