Kenneth Emery Winter Jr.'s Obituary
Kenneth Emery Winter, Jr. passed away with his family by his side on October 26, 2025, at the age of 93. He was born in Joliet, Illinois on May 16, 1932, to Kenneth Emery Winter, Sr. and Doris Stockbridge Winter.
Ken spent his early years living in several cities in the West and Midwest due to his father’s work as manager for W.T. Grant. When he was 12, Ken, Sr. was transferred to Muskegon and settled the family in Lakeside. They loved it here and elected to stay, eventually buying a small store in North Muskegon which became Winter’s Variety Store.
Ken graduated from Muskegon High School in 1950. Shortly after, he enlisted in the Navy and served during the Korean War as a radioman on Navy airplanes, mostly in the Pacific--San Diego, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Alaska. He laughingly told friends and family that during his four years in the Navy, he spent only one night aboard a ship.
After discharge, Ken worked with his father in the variety store and saw it through a major expansion. He became a specialist in yard care, attending workshops on Scott’s products, and doing house calls to help customers with their weeds, vermin, and grass problems. When his father retired in the early ‘60s, he took over ownership of the store until his own retirement in 1990. Over the years, grown men would reminisce with him about coming to his store as kids to buy Hot Wheel cars and rockets; grandmothers would remember buying Buster Brown clothes for their children. His retirement signaled the end of a retail era.
In 1957, Ken married Marguerite (Marge) Erickson. Together they spent 68 years raising their two children, welcoming renters to their cottages on Crystal Lake in Beulah, Michigan, enjoying winters in Tucson, and traveling internationally. Ken’s goal was to visit all six continents, which he did, but his favorite was hiking coast-to-coast across England.
During his working years, Ken was an active member of the North Muskegon retail community and served on the city Planning Commission. His many interests included target shooting, building and flying model airplanes, sailing, hiking, lawn care, and spending time with family. He was a skilled craftsman who spent many hours in his workshop, making step stools, toy boxes, toolboxes and more that his children and grandchildren still enjoy.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Alan Stockbridge Winter. He will be warmly remembered by his wife Marge; his children James (Rigena) Winter, and Lynn Marie (David Kennedy) Winter; his grandchildren Dan (Helen) Simons of Florida, Terri (Chris) McPheron, Travis (Lisa) Winter, and Kaitlyn (David Bradshaw) Winter, all of Muskegon, and eight great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 15, at the Lake House Waterfront Grille, 730 Terrace Point Drive, Muskegon, MI 49440. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Norse Education Fund. Arrangements entrusted to The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444. Please share memories with the family on their online guestbook at https://www.sytsemafh.com.
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