Michael Winters

OBITUARY Michael Arthur Winters, age 69, died peacefully, surrounded by family, at the VA Hospital in White River Junction on June 18, 2014 after courageously battling cancer for several years. He was born on March 8, 1945 in Methuen, MA. Survived by his wife of 42 years and high school sweetheart Susan Grzelak Winters, son JJ Winters of Franklin and his wife Amy and their daughter Emily, daughter Shelley Winters of Concord, son Eddie Winters of Sunapee, beloved granddaughter Emily, sister Valerie Cilley and her husband Glenn of Hill, sister Lee-Ann Forsyth and her husband Warren of Franklin, sister-in-law Karen Grzelak of Franklin, and many nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Augustine & Gertrude Winters, and sister Gail MacIver. Mike graduated from Franklin High School in 1964 and graduated with a degree in accounting from Nathaniel Hawthorne College. Mike fought with Battery C 1097th Field Artillery Unit during the Vietnam War. Mike owned and operated the High Noon Cafe in Franklin for several years before returning to civil duty as a rural mail carrier for the US Postal Service and re-enlisted with the US Army National Guard full-time until his retirement from the military in 2003. Mike was a past Exalted Ruler of the Franklin Lodge of Elks 1280 and was a life member of the Franklin VFW. Mike was a stellar athlete; he played in the Boston Garden with his state championship CYO basketball team, and played basketball, baseball & football during his high school years. Mike shared his love of sports with his children, especially playing & coaching basketball. Mike coached the Franklin High School Girls' Basketball team to back-to-back Class M State Championship games in 1991 & 1992 and all three of his children followed in his coaching footsteps. Mike loved spending time with his family and watching his children's high school and college sporting events. Mike also enjoyed living at Highland Lake and taking friends and family on boat rides, as well as traveling with his wife, especially to attend NCAA basketball tournaments including a Final Four. Visiting hours will be held Monday, June 23, 2014 from 5-8:00 pm at Thibault-Neun Funeral Home, 143 Franklin St., Franklin, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 10 am in St. Paul Church with burial following at NH Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the Oncology Department and staff at the VA Hospital for the compassion and care they showed to Mike throughout his treatments. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Mike to the Michael Winters Veterans Fund, c/o Franklin Savings Bank, 387 Central St., Franklin, NH 03235 or they may be left at the funeral home. For directions and an online guestbook, please visit www.neunfuneralhomes.com