Gerda Cornelia Winchell

Gerda Cornelia Winchell, born March 20, 1946, passed away September 13, 2026. She was born in Rotterdam, Holland, Netherlands, to Jan and Jenny (DeBruin) Van Ringelesteyn. They emigrated to the United States in 1955, settling in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she graduated from South High School in 1964. She worked a couple of office jobs before moving to San Diego, California, where she worked in the Navy Exchange accounting office. The travel bug eventually put her in a fifth-wheel camper, and she traveled all over America. She later lived in Bridgeport, Washington, where she gardened and canned. She then moved to Cottonwood, Arizona, but a house fire drove her to move yet again, this time to Kokomo, Indiana. She eventually arrived in Northern Kentucky, where she made three more moves before finding her final resting place in Berry, Kentucky. Gerda leaves behind her niece, Jantine Stoops of Berry, Kentucky; nephew, Jan Westerkamp (Flor) of Lake Havasu, Arizona; niece, Antonia Mitchell (Alan) of Oak Harbor, Washington; and her great-nieces and great-nephews, Charlotte (Chuck) Harmon of Florence, Kentucky, Victor P. (Tammy) Lewis of Fredericksburg, Virginia, Tamara Powell of Dry Ridge, Kentucky, Eric (Michele) Marshall of Oak Harbor, Washington, Ted Marshall of Bothell, Washington, Luz (Edison) Calacay of San Diego, California, and Jan A. (Yuqui) of Lake Havasu, Arizona. She also leaves behind seventeen great-great-nieces and nephews scattered throughout the United States and four great-great-great-nieces and nephews. Gerda was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Goiska of Rotterdam, Holland; sister, Tony Westerkamp; brother-in-law, Johannes Westerkamp; great-great-nephew, Jon Mitchell; great-great-niece, Alicia Mitchell; great-great-nephew, Corbin Powell; and great-great-nephew, Garrett Powell of Kentucky. Gerda’s greatest joys in life were all of God’s creatures. She had a wide variety of pets throughout her life and loved them all dearly. She never passed up an opportunity to pet and admire them. She was blessed with many different talents. She wrote short stories and poems, drew and painted any subject on any surface, and created crafts of many varieties. She could even take apart and fix a computer. She loved photography, fishing, horseback riding, ice skating, roller skating, and bicycling. Those who came to know Gerda always saw her beautiful smile and her ability to spread it through her witty sense of humor. As her family and friends are located throughout Europe and the United States, a memorial service and scattering of the ashes will be held at a date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local animal shelter.

Gerda Cornelia Winchell

March 20, 1946 - September 13, 2026