Larry Winnes

Larry Walter Winnes passed away on May 13, 2022 at the age of 75, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin surrounded by his family. Although Parkinson’s gradually took his ability to walk and talk, he never lost his desire to make others laugh, his stubborn independence, or his strong faith in the Lord’s goodness. He had a heart to help those in need.

Larry was born April 8, 1947 in Freemont, Ohio to Walter and Martha Winnes. He met the love of his life, Janice (Nelson), at California Lutheran Bible School in Los Angeles, California. They were married on August 24, 1969 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, MN. He earned his Masters in Theology from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. 

Larry worked as a teamster and then in management for Coast to Coast Hardware before he entered vocational ministry in 1980 with Open Doors with Brother Andrew. He moved his family to West Germany in 1986 where he worked with the underground church in Eastern Europe under communism and during the revolutions in Czechoslovakia and Romania in 1989. In 1990 he was asked by a church in Prague to pastor one of their cell churches. After moving back to Minnesota in 1997, he continued to minister in Estonia, Siberia, China, and Mongolia and elsewhere, even well into the progression of his Parkinson’s. In the last year of his life, he was determined to complete a book chronicling his ministry experiences and stories in a book, River of Faith, which was published in December 2021.

Larry is survived by his wife, Janice; his three children: Anne (J.D.) Bickle, Grant (Jennifer), and Bethany (Greg) Crosswhite; his six grandchildren: John, Sophia, Kaitlin (Jake), Joshua, Sarah, and Maili. He is also survived by his siblings: MaryAnn (John) Ashmead, David (Janice) Winnes, and Don (Linnea) Winnes.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Walter and Martha Winnes.

A private reviewal was held on May 15th for family and close friends. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on July 7, 2022 at 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls, 5212 41st Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417.

Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral & Cremation Service is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left for Larry's family at www.lenmarkfh.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.