I've known Mr. Winger for about six years, but have only gotten to REALLY know him in the past three. And, if I had to pick one word to describe him, it would be difficult, but I think that word would be "love". Everything about him was Love. Family. Love. Friendship. Love. He radiated Love. I always imagined that if he were a cartoon character he would have these giant hearts bulging from his eyes!

To know him was to love him. To know him was to respect him. And, if you didn't get the chance to know him…you still can, and that is through his children. They are everything that he stood for. His heart. His soul. His values. His passion. And, most especially, his Love.

Mr. Winger loved to laugh. I don't know if you have been around him when he got that contagious giggle, but when he would laugh like that, you can just forget about it…you are done. Because, he starts laughing and then you're laughing and you're both laughing and now you are both crying…and you don't even know what was funny. You are just laughing….and you just got to love someone who can laugh like that!

They say you can determine the value of someone's life by how many people they touch along the way. If that's true, I'd say Mr. Winger had about the most valuable life of anyone I have ever known.

Mr. Winger had an energy about him. When he walked into a room, you just felt it. And, anyone who has visited that house in the last few days can tell you…that energy is still there. That house is NOT empty. No matter what you believe as far as spirituality or the after life, it's just something that you can't deny.

Lastly, I'd like to say that Mr. Winger would not want today to be a day of sadness, tears and mourning of the fact that he is gone. Instead, he would want today to be a celebration of the fact that he lived. It is okay to be sad, but it's also okay to be happy. Happy that you got to know such a wonderful individual. I know we will all take a piece of him with us, and I know for me, that piece will be…his love.

- Tammi Norton (Friend)


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