Raimund Winkler

Raimund was born and raised in Austria on March 18, 1943 to Franz and Anna Winkler. He was taught at the early age of 5 how to become a farmer. Later the family moved to the town of Lienz where his father worked on the mountain (Schlossberg). Here Raimund attended school, helped his father, learned to ski, ice skate, and tried to stay out of trouble.

He was an accomplished clarinet player and could be seen in the marching band of Lienz. He loved classical music, which we played at home. He was also a member of a band that played local folk music. Eventually he came to the US as a certified Austrian ski instructor, first in Beech Mountain North Carolina, then Hunter Mountain NY. He became Ski School Director at Snow Bowl Ski Area in Milton NJ where he met his wife, Helen (Meloskie) Winkler. After Snow Bowl, Raimund taught and coached ski racing in Great Gorge and Vernon Valley Ski Areas (Mountain Creek) NJ. He also taught in Hidden Valley Ski Area in Vernon, NJ

He was proud of his American citizenship but also stayed connected to his friends and family in Austria and maintained many Austrian customs. He and Helen traveled to Europe yearly and enjoyed hiking, biking, local cuisine, beer and schnapps in the beautiful Alps.

Raimund embarked on his career as a metrologist in 1976 where he entered the field as a machinist, moved on to Metrology Inspector at Kearfott Guidance and Navigation in Little Falls, NJ. He was very proud to have worked on special projects involving our guidance missile systems. In 1997 he became a metrologist at Becton Dickinson World Headquarters in Franklin Lakes, NJ. He retired in 2011 and spent his time outdoors – hiking, biking, sailing, skiing, etc. He and Helen traveled back to Europe every year or two until it was no longer feasible.

Raimund is survived by his wife, Helen, brothers and sisters-in-law (Jeff and Maryann Sellitto); (Gus and Marie Picariello); (Jerry and Terry Meloskie); several nieces, nephews, grandnephews and grandnieces in the USA, Austria, and South Africa, and his dear friends in Austria and the USA (too many to mention) Oh! Also his dear cat, Murlie.

He was pre-deceased by his parents Anna and Franz, his siblings: Anneliese, Louisa, Maria , his sisters-in-law Hanni Brugger in Austria and Elizabeth Meloskie in PORT Jervis, NY.

Arrangements are being made by Goble Funeral Home in Sparta, NJ. Visitation will be from 12:00 to 3:00 PM on Saturday, December 13.

Donations in Raimund’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice. Some suggestions are:

Animal Resource Center PO Box 439, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania 17815, United States

Dementia Society of America - PO Box 600 - Doylestown, PA 18901 USA

Dementia Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.