Bernard "Ben" Winkler – age 98, of Laurens, passed away on Thursday, July 1, 2021, at MercyOne-West Lakes in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Bernard Ralph Winkler was born on June 26, 1923 in Schaller, Iowa. He was the son of Lee and Hilda (Strauss) Winkler. He graduated from Fonda High School in 1941. In October of 1941, Ben began working for M. & J.R. Hakes Co. at their Fonda location. He served in the U.S. Navy from January of 1943 to January of 1946, during WWII. He was stationed on the USS Welles with the Destroyer Division 38. Following his military service, Ben returned to Fonda where he resumed working for M. & J.R. Hakes. There he met his future Wife, Alice. On June 18, 1947, Ben was united in marriage to Alice Robertson in Fonda. The couple lived in Fonda until 1966 when they moved to Laurens. Ben began working for M. & J.R. Hakes as an egg washer and retired as Senior Vice President of Purchasing in 1987, with over 40 years of service. In retirement, Ben and Alice enjoyed spending their winters in Florence, AZ. In Arizona, Ben was an active realtor for many years. Alice passed away in 2011. In April of 2012, Ben was united in marriage to Rose Marie Smith. The couple spent their summers in Laurens and Alaska and wintered in Arizona.

Ben was a past member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Laurens and current member of the OLGC Catholic Church in Fonda and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed fishing, trading in the stock market, going on walks and gardening.

Survivors include his wife, Rose Marie; children, Jack (Mary Lou) Winkler of Knoxville, TN, Donald (Sarah) Winkler of Laurens, Rose Mary Cannon of Florence, AZ, Beverly Flynn of Florence, AZ, Carol (Dean) Schade of Johnston and Lorraine (fiancée, Dwight Davis) Rohrbaugh of Early; 10 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sister, LaVonne Bals of Ohio and Rose Marie's family, Jane Smith of Omaha, NE, Janette Smith Coil of Roseville, MN, Dennis (Lorraine) Smith of Bakersfield, CA, Debbie Smith Terrones of Ames, John (Yvonne) Smith of Greensboro, NC, Annette Smith of Springdale, AR; Angie King of Eldon Hills, California, 15 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Alice; brothers, Orrie, Bernace and Robert Winkler; a grandson, Zak Winkler, granddaughter, Rebecca Winkler; a son-in-law, George Flynn, and Rose Marie's family, Brian Smith, Tom Coil, Mark Terrones, and Carolyn Smith.

As Ben would say, "Over and Out."