Helmut Winter, 88, of Bristol, widower of Leokadia (Kopacz) Winter and Maria Winter, died on Sunday, Sept. 26, at John Dempsey Hospital, Farmington.
Helmut was born on April 14, 1933, in Ligowko, Poland and was a son of the late Edmund and Martha (Bar) Winter.
Growing up in Poland during World War II, he experienced many hardships including his family getting separated and escaping captivity. He served in the Polish Army for two years as a sharpshooter and attained the rank of Corporal. After he was discharged, he married the love of his life, Leokadia, and they were able to settle in Hamburg, Germany before they came to the United States in January of 1962.
He first worked for Veeder-Root Co. and then Superior Electric as a tool and die maker before retiring and was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Church, Bristol.
He enjoyed working on cars, carpentry and was a handy jack-of-all-trades. There was nothing that he did not try to make or fix or build. If he had time, he enjoyed spending time on his boat fishing. He enjoyed driving his beloved Lincoln everywhere, New York to Florida to California to Nevada and home. Later in life he spent time living with his daughter, Barbara, enjoying his great grandchildren and reminiscing.
Helmut is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Natalia and John Ryng, and Barbara and Stanley Putko, all of Bristol; five grandchildren: John Ryng and wife, Heather, Skyler Ryng, Alina Aniolowski and husband, Dave, Sabrina Rebecchi and husband, Ryan, and Samantha Putko; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews including a very special niece, Christina Blum of Germany.
He was predeceased by a brother, two sisters, and a grandson, Alexander Ryng.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. from Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave, Bristol, to St. Stanislaus Church, 510 West St., Bristol, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bristol.
Relatives and friends may call at Funk Funeral Home Tuesday, Sept. 28, between 4 and 7 p.m. Please visit Helmut’s memorial web-site at www.FunkFuneralHome.com
