Prayers of comfort and peace for Blanche, Laura & Jim, and John and all the kids.

Rae Jean Koch

Our thoughts and prayers are with Jerry's entire family. Roy and Kathy Jo Eskro

To the Winchells:

We'll miss Jerry alot. He was a real comedian with a huge Heart. My kids will never forget the fun we had with him at the lake and how he made several occasions so special in there lives. He never forgot to ask how they were doing. For this they have a special spot in their hearts. God Bless Jerry.

Tim Beeter & Family

I will never forget Jerry. His contagious laugh, and smile that would light up a dead room. His loud voice, that seemed to carry for miles and miles. I also will remember when he first got K.C. he brought her into the Club and I was distracted by her and I asked him what he was going to name her he said that he hadn’t named her and asked what I thought. I told him K.C. for Knights of Columbus and he laughed and said ok. That was that K.C. had name. Seeing Jare Bear was some of my fondest memories growing up. He is gone but never will be forgotten. May he rest in peace. I will keep all of you in my prayers and thoughts through this difficult time of sorrow.

Brittani O’Malley

To the Winchell family,

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. It has been years since the last time I saw Jerry, but I think about him often, and the many many fun times and laughs we had during my years at Central Sheet Metal. Please know that you are all in my thoughts during your time of grief.

Warmest Regards

Bob Swenson

Dear Blanche, John, Jim, Laura & family,

We did not know Jerry was ill so we were shocked to see the obituary online in the Gazette here in Las Vegas. He was such a pleasure to be around & so much help when we had problems with furnace or air-conditioning units. Hearing that big voice on the telephone seemed to make a person think he could take care of anything. We are so sorry for your loss. You will all be in our thoughts and prayers. Frosty & Mel Brown

To the Winchell Family,

In reading the wonderful thoughts about Jerry I can simply say that he touched so many people in so many wonderful ways.

Jerry had a true gift of making each person he met feel 'just a little better about life' and ending the conversation with a smile or certainly a laugh....

Living out of state did not allow me to enjoy the pleasure of seeing Jerry as often, but when we did see each other he made you feel like a true friend.

Our prayers are with your family in celebrating Jerry's wonderful life.

God Bless You Jerry in eternal peace and happiness.

Lonnie Charleson

To the entire Winchell family and friends:

I don't really know where to begin. My heart is heavy today and my words cannot fully express what I feel. I have always loved the Winchell family and offer each of you my prayers and support at this difficult time. Jerry was like a brother to me and was certainly one of my closest and dearest friends. He was so unique, so full of life. No one could ever cheer me up or make me laugh like Jerry. He was a very loving man and good to so many people. He touched their lives and my life in a very special way. I have so many precious memories from all the good times we had over the years. Jerry will always hold a special place in my heart. I will miss him tremendously but I feel so very lucky to have known him and to be able to say that he was my friend. God bless Jerry and each of you.

Steve Depner

Dear Blanche, Jim, Laura, John and kids, I am so sorry to hear of Jerry's death. It's been years since I've seen him, but smile when I think of his humor and big caring heart. I'll be praying for your family. Love Ann (Frickle) Merkel

Mrs. Winchell, John, Jim, and family:

Unlike relatives, you chose your friends. It’s been one of the longest-enduring pleasures of my life that in 1st grade Jerry chose me as a friend and near-brother. We shared that on a daily basis for the first 6 of our Wonder Years. The worst part of starting 7th grade was the thought of 2 dreary years in the Fratt gulag without Jerry along to take the heat for me. My loss was Dan Neiter’s gain (and probably Jerry’s too), for which I have always been a bit jealous—imagine that brazen hussy Neiter stealing my BFF.

Sharing the opinion of probably everybody else who ever met JW, I consider Jerry the finest natural comedian I’ll ever know. He made me laugh the day we met, the last time I saw him, and every time in between. He was funny eating fried dough in your kitchen nook. He was funny fighting with and biting Rowdy. He was funny when we boosted Ralph’s High Life from the Tiki Hut. He was funny during our wee hours motorcycle races over the rims on our brothers’ “borrowed” motorcycles. (Jim, your bike was faster than Dave’s.) Jerry was a genius at torturing nuns���who usually weren’t even aware of it. He did a spot-on Dean Halverson impersonation at Lincoln, which evolved with time into a spot-on Hilgendorf spoof at Central--how did those guys keep straight faces with Jerry in detention? My undergrad GPA never did fully recover from the hilarity Jerry inflicted during our first quarter at UM. And he always knew to especially crack me up after laying any of the several well-deserved beatings on me, which went a long way toward easing the pain. Jerry made my folks and sibs and wife and kids laugh.

And now, after 48 years of laughing, Jerry’s making me cry. I loved Jerry Winchell. I mourn your loss.

JP Healow

I was at the Koko bar with the dancing bear and we got into a good natured argument about something or other, when he cuffed me along side the head (as bears tend to do sometimes to make their point). I got mad and punched said bear which was a mistake as he was on top of me with his knees on my shoulders (a bad situation) very quickly. When I woke up, I was sitting on a bar stool next door at Archers with a beer in front of me (the bear bought it for me after picking me up and carrying me next door-the cops were coming). He had a sad look on his face and asked me why I had hit him. I told him I didn't remember but it would surely never happen again. He laughed. Our first and last disagreement. Love you Bear - I'll see you in that special place in Heaven, where they keep the fun loving Catholics.

Shawn Bettise

Our deepest sympathy for your loss. May God's love give you peace during this difficult time.

Bob & Amy Hand

Blanche, John, Jim & Laura,

Words are inadequate, to express the sympathy I feel over the loss of your beloved Jerry. May God wrap His loving arms around you & give you peace.

Carole Clingman

Rest in peace Jerry. I'll see you on the other side. Bill Martinson

To Jerry's Family,

I met Jerry during the two years I lived in Billings in the mid '80's. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. We'd go to a tavern south of the the tracks once in a while and he'd charm the crowd singing some country song in his beautiful voice, which I can still hear in my head today. We took a few road trips together that were action-packed from beginning to end. Truly he was one of the funniest guys I ever meet. He was a big hearted guy, who always lived every day to the hilt, and the world is going to miss him.

Mark White

Sacramento, CA