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| Affiliation | Republican |
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| Name | Josef "Joe" Winkler, III |
| Address |
Castle Rock, Colorado , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
April 23, 1928 |
| Died |
July 18, 2002
(74 years) |
| Contributor | BrentinCO |
| Last Modifed | David
Apr 24, 2022 05:46pm |
| Tags |
Married - Young Republicans - Catholic -
|
| Info | Rancher; Businessman
State Representative: 1977-1983
State Senator: 1983-1991
Colorado Rancher and state legislator.
Winkler was born on the Winkler Ranch in Douglas County to Josef Winkler II and Rose Paoli, who had emigrated from Austria to homestead in Douglas County. Winkler was one of seven children raised into a life of cattle ranching. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1953 with a degree in animal husbandry and animal production.
Winkler married Lois Simon Winkler in Evergreen Feb. 11, 1966. He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Although many people wanted to attend a service, Winkler told his family he wanted a quiet exit. A small service for family was at the ranch, led by the Rev. Bill Vollmer.
Winkler served as chairman in the early days of the Douglas County Republican party and then founded the Young Republicans League in Douglas County in the '50s. He described himself as ultraconservative, dedicated to cutting back on government spending, cutting taxes, and increasing water storage for future growth.
He served in the legislature from 1977 to 1991, three terms as a state representative and two terms as a state senator from Douglas County.
After taking time out for politics, Winkler returned to the ranch where he ran the family's 5,000-acre homestead of 350 shorthorn cattle near Castle Rock with his sister, Fran Cannon.
Before his death, he had been training the fourth generation of Winklers - nephews - to eventually take over the operation. The Winkler Ranch (with Colorado brand "GE"), established in 1860, was recognized as an official Colorado Centennial Farm for remaining in the same family for more than 100 years.
Winkler was an expert cattleman and loved being with his cattle, said neighbor and friend Bob Shultz. "Every new calf was a delight to him."
Busloads of third-graders would arrive at the Winkler Ranch in the spring and fall to get a lesson in the early history of Douglas County as well as a lesson in land husbandry.
He had a lot of patience and compassion for young people and taught them that the land is something not to be taken for granted. He told them if you take care of the land, the land will take care of you.
He had been active in both the American Shorthorn Association and the National Western Stock Show, and spent many years working with young people in 4-H Club.
He and his wife of 35 years, Lois Simon Winkler, also were in the habit of taking in stray cats and dogs that appeared on their doorstep. The Douglas County Buddy Center, an animal adoption program with the Dumb Friends League, opened this year with the support of Winkler and his wife.
In the late '70s, Winkler donated 500 acres of Winkler Ranch to Castlewood Canyon State Park.
Winkler is survived by sister Fran Cannon of Castle rock; brother George Winkler of Yuma, Ariz.; nieces Karen Riesselman of Franktown and Kendall Harris of Absaroke, Mont.; nephew Robert Longworth of Denver, and great nephews and nieces Joseph Mullins, Jameson Mullins, Robert Longworth Jr., Kanon Torgerson and Kendra Longworth. He was godfather to Joe Mullins and a friend to many.
Donations in memory of Josef Winkler may be made to the Douglas County Buddy Center, 4556 Castleton Court, Castle Rock, CO 80104; or to the National World War II Memorial, P.O. Box 96766, Washington, D.C. 20090-67766.
Cause of death: An infection when he cut his hand while working with calves that spread to his heart.
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