Harold Gordon VanWinkle was born August 21, 1920, in Barnes County, North Dakota to Alva M. and Elizabeth (Smith) VanWinkle. He was baptized and confirmed June 8, 1941, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Shible Township. Harold attended District 65 through the eighth grade and graduated from Appleton High School.He was united in marriage to Bernice Emily Emma Stock, his wife of over 70 years, on May 19, 1940, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Shible Township. They farmed in Hegbert Township until 1942 and then moved to Edison Township and farmed there until 1964. In 1963 he began truck driving for S & S Trucking and in 1964 started driving for Speckeen Trucking, which later turned into Minnesota-Wisconsin, G.M.W., and Quast Trucking. He also sold cars part-time in the Ortonville, Benson, Appleton, and Milbank, SD areas. Harold retired in 1982 and moved to Appleton in 1990. He worked part-time for D&C Motors and West-Con. In the fall of 2001, he and Bernice moved to Apple Ridge Estates. During his life Harold was an Elder, greeter, and usher of Trinity Lutheran Church of Ortonville, and also served as Mayor of the City of Ortonville for six years from 1980-1986. He also served as school board president of District 61 and was an adult 4-H leader. He was also the president of the Appleton Rod & Reel Club.Qualities that made Harold special were he was a loving, considerate husband and father. He was a role model for his family. He was compassionate, ingenious, fun loving, positive, sincere, encouraging, great determination, curious to learn, "spunky", and devoted and deeply bonded to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-granddaughter.Harold died on Monday morning, December 27th, at Appleton Area Health Services. He had attained 90 years, 4 months, and 6 days of age.He is survived by wife Bernice; four children: Vernon (Nancy) VanWinkle of Ashby, Eunice Anderson of Tavares, FL, Marilyn Kraemer of Brainerd, and Arlyn (Connie) VanWinkle of Cape Coral, FL; daughter-in-law, Arlene (Leon) Knox of Fort Collins, CO; 11 grandchildren: Bradley Anderson, Brenda Anderson, Brett Anderson, Bryce Anderson, Elsie Byrne, Kelly Burmeister, Chad Kraemer, Lori Twitchell, Deryl VanWinkle, Kristi Kreisher, and Randy Van Winkle; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; nieces, nephews, and other relatives.He is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Richard; granddaughter, Vicki; two great-granddaughters: Alicia and Kelsi; three brothers, and three sisters.