On December 9, 2023 our beloved father, Gerald L. “Jerry” Winters of Hays, Kansas, returned home to his Heavenly Father at the age of 92. He was born on January 3, 1931 in Gasport, New York to LeRoy and Dorothy (Moorehouse) Winters. Gerald graduated from Lockport High School and attended Fredonia State College and the University of Buffalo where he received his elementary education degree. Gerald served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and he later married Dorothy Long on August 28, 1957. They were married 35 years before she preceded him in death on February 18, 1992.
He taught school for 32 years in Niagara Falls, New York and never stopped teaching the things he loved be it dancing or gardening. He was also a jack of many trades, selling insurance for 25 years, owning and renting apartments for 20 years, and selling vitamins right up until the end of his life. He loved to interact with people about health and fitness and loved to exercise. He was a member of the Western New York Racquetball League, and he enjoyed swimming and especially loved dancing of all kinds. Though, perhaps ballroom dancing was his favorite. He was a faithful churchgoer, first at the Niagara United Presbyterian Church where he sang in the choir and served as an elder. Later he moved to Hays, Kansas and became a member of Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church. He loved to make the people around him laugh and always desired to see those he loved doing well in life.
He is survived by his two children, Patricia Cooley and husband Dale of Syracuse, UT and Jane Rorstrom and husband Jim of Hays, a brother-in-law, Peter Welge of Jamesville, NY, six grandchildren, Nickolaus Oettinger and wife Chelsey, Heidi Oettinger and fiancé Justin Davidson, Katarina Clinton and husband Mark, Hans Rorstrom and wife Hannah, Eric Rorstrom, and Carl Rorstrom, and two great grandchildren, Svea Rorstrom and Hope Clinton.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his sister; Janet Welge.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Friday, December 15, 2023 at Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church, with Pastor Jason Murray and Pastor Gary Simon officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Thursday at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and from 10:00 am until service time on Friday at the church. Burial will be at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York. Memorials are suggested to Cornerstone Southern Baptist Church. Condolences and memories of Gerald may be shared with his family at www.haysmemorial.com