Thomas, Winifred Rose 'Winnie'

Winifred Rose “Winnie” Thomas, 97, of Manchester, died Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester.

Winnie was born Oct. 15, 1915, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of John C. and Katherine (Welu) Reisch. Winnie received her schooling in Dubuque. On Sept. 4, 1943, she was united in marriage to Robert W. Thomas in Gainesville, Texas.

Winnie worked as a waitress for 18 years at Imperial Lanes in Dubuque, retiring in April 1991. Winifred loved the sport of bowling. During her many years of bowling, Winnie had served as the Dubuqueland Women's Bowling Association president for several years, as well as first vice president and second vice president and as a board member. She was also a member of the Dubuqueland Hall of Fame.

Winnie also enjoyed teaching others how to play the game. She was a certified junior bowling coach at Imperial Lanes in Dubuque.

Winnie's husband, Robert, passed away in 1988, and she continued to make Dubuque her home. In the early 2000s, Winnie moved to Manchester to Countryside Village. She then moved to the Meadows and then to the Good Neighbor Home.

Winnie was a member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church and its rosary society. She was also an avid Cubs fan.

She is survived by her daughter, JoAnn (Richard) Wilmot of Clifton Park, N.Y.; her son, John (Diane) Thomas of Manchester; two grandchildren, Michael (Corinne) Conti and Kelley Harbach; and two great-grandchildren, Zakary and Lexi Harbach.

Winnie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert Thomas; two sisters, Helen Fonck and Sue Foht; and three brothers, Christian, Albert and Louis Reisch.

Online condolences may be sent to .

Mass of Resurrection: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 6, at St. John's Catholic Church in Delhi, with Father Dennis Cain officiating. Visitation: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment: Dubuque Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Dubuque.

Published April 4, 2013 in The Gazette