OBITUARY provided by Ellen Sorenson
on January 20, 2013:
Esther O. Winger, age 91, of Decorah, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah following a long illness.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, September 20, 2008 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church in rural Decorah by Rev. James Glesne with burial in the church cemetery.

Friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. Friday, September 19 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and an hour prior to the services on Saturday at the church.

Esther Olivia (Haugen) Winger was born June 8, 1917 at home in Springfield Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Gjermund E. and Dina (Danielson) Haugen. She was baptized on July 15, 1917 at Springfield Lutheran Church and confirmed on June 7, 1931 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. Esther attended the Viste rural school in Decorah Township.

She was united in marriage to Leonard Kenwick Winger on February 14, 1940 at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church Parsonage. This union was blessed with four children: Thomas, Lorraine, Gerald and Lorna.

Esther and Leonard farmed on his family farm in Decorah Township for many years.

She gardened and enjoyed flowers – especially four-leaf clovers and African violets. Esther liked played cards, including 500 and a good game of "Go Fish and King's Corners" with her grandchildren. She enjoyed country music, particularly Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, and enjoyed dancing to the Schottische and the waltz. She also enjoyed baking and had coffee and angel food cake available every day. Esther loved her church, her children and her grandchildren.

Esther became a resident of Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah on July 31, 1996.

Esther is survived by her four children: Tom (Marilyn) Winger of Decorah, IA, Lorraine Burreson of Loveland, CO, Jerry (Brinda) Winger of Sterling, IL and Lorna (Howard) Sande of Decorah, IA; her ten grandchildren: Jerad Winger, Emily Winger , Jon (Lidia) Burreson, Jan (Rebecca Belmont) Burreson, Pamela Sande, Ilene Sande, Lee Sande, Harlan Sande, Bridgit (Scott) Gregory and Courtney Gillette; five great-grandchildren: Nicholas Burreson, Kooper and Jadyn Burreson, Karisa Williams and Joshua Sande; one sister, Delores (Vernon) Rovang of Decorah, IA; one sister-in-law, Elsie Haugen of Decorah, IA; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Leonard on August 21, 1991; her parents; four sisters, Edna Spilde, Genevieve Omdahl, Adeline Bergan and Marian Gjevre; two brothers, Ivan and Vernon Haugen; siblings in infancy, Elenore Haugen, Donald and Leonard Haugen; and one son-in-law, Gary Burreson on March 17, 2005.
~ published on Fjelstul Funeral Home website on January 20, 2013