Edwina "Winnie" Fern (Precht) Clark

Dad soon nicknamed Edwina “Winnie the Pooh” so we all knew her as WINNIE. Never did anyone else dare include (the Pooh). She had two older sisters, Beverly Jean and Mary Ann. All were joined by live-in elderly grandparents. First by her mothers, the Kettrey’s, with Sarah often sneaking up the stairway with a cup of hot chocolate for Winnie at bedtime. Later they moved to Fern’s sister so that Earl’s folks could be cared for.

Earl followed in his father’s business owning and operating a funeral home. Fern also achieved a funeral director’s license. The family moved to the second story of the large building one block off the town’s square—a short walk to Terry’s grocery—an early acquaintance, who immediately fell in love with Winnie. A story throughout her life; being an extrovert and because of her friendliness.

Music entered her life early with piano lessons—and those recitals. Easier to enjoy were her weekly trips to the movies with her daddy’s quarter—admittance plus popcorn and a penny left over. She had her own record player so with her weekly allowance headed for the store and another vinyl. That player wore out but the records moved with her. Some were by her favorite Roy Rogers and many were of Christmas—a famously favorite time of year. Countlessly adding to the decorations assortment. Nothing like a fresh cut tree from the woods in GA.

Winnie retained friendships from Mrs. Gillman’s kindergarten, to grade school at McMillan, and Hardin Jr. High. One of those at Hardin was a new farm boy from NW IA—known then as Jimmie.

A class of 140 moved on the Mexico High. Near the end of the freshman year this Jimmie became a “thing”. It continued so that by graduation in 1957 they were already married.

Melanie Ann was born Aug. 12 with the three headed to the Univ. of MO for Winnie to become a new mother, a homemaker in a new trailer house, and a student by early Sept. In 2nd semester she began carrying a full load of schooling in the college of education. She and Jim alternated classroom and home. By 1962 both achieved BS degrees, hers in elementary education, and time to depart lasting friends.

Next, Jim’s job created a move to Winnie’s beloved Thomasville, Ga. After subsequent moves, she often said she would be happy to retire there. James Randall was born in 1963 and Lisa Gay in 1965. Meanwhile Winnie established new friends in church, various activities and especially in another civic club—Jr. Service League. She taught youngsters in church on Sunday mornings, and in Bible School in the summers. She was able to reconnect with her love of music. More super, lasting friendships. Here her compassion and generosity showed brightly. Nephew Allen needed a home in which to relax, find himself, and continue his high school. Winnie openly invited him and determinedly made it happen.

Another job change in 1969 caused a move to Brighton, MI. Winnie joined Welcome Wagon to make friends, and soon began as a helper in pre-school, later becoming the teacher. After a few years, she took an assignment in Brighton’s Education Department and began teaching GED to adults. There she thrived. Students continued to keep in touch, and especially thank for her encouragement and their learning. Winnie attended Eastern MI. Univ., mostly at night school to obtain a Master Degree in Education by 1981. She continued her church life and her community involvement. Her children progressed through Brighton High where she became their loudest sports fan. Heat, cold, rain or snow could not keep her away. She was always in the middle of any school activity. The family travelled to family events, especially to her parents in MO, and into much of the US. Winnie loved that as well as her couple trips to Europe. Oh yes, another friend, this in Germany—her ancestry. Music interests were heightened, more piano playing and attendance at numerous musicals and plays—many in Detroit.

By 1988, Jim’s 1st career was concluded. His 2nd took us to Temple Terrace FL., leaving another group of friends, never to be forgotten. Winnie thought it would be nice to take a year off before returning to working in education. That stretched to—never. No problem. More time for family, church, music, and travel. Time now with grown children, four grandchildren, and four great-grands. Watching them all grow and progress and following their activities with attendance when possible. Proud of each. She immediately joined church and “joined in.” Always on a committee. Joined the choir. Always lending a hand, and a shoulder! Able now to attend more musicals, including a subscription to the Tampa Center annually for several Broadway plays. Now more travel, including more of Europe. Once covering several of the western countries with a group of 20 (2 close friends from MU and another 18 now new friends from MO). A later trip to her favorite, Italy, taking her girls. Another to Jim’s ancestry home land and relatives—Sweden. In Temple Terrace she assisted Jim with the administrative side of his business until he retired.

Winnie was a great sports fan in Jr. Hi, High School and University. MO football with her dad in tow. Then it became MI football. She went to 3 Olympics. She travelled around the country to Jim’s age-group racing. In FL she became a hockey fan.

Winnie loved parties, both giving and going. She had a whopper at her 50th wedding anniversary. Dozens of relatives and the aforementioned friends from all over the country. She liked to cook and bake. Being an immaculate housekeeper, always ready. Also, she loved holidays.

Winnie’s piano playing gave her less enjoyment and more difficult as her fingers stiffened from rheumatoid arthritis, diagnosed some 20 years before. Never a complaint. Some of her hobbies like cross-stitching and crocheting were discontinued. She still liked puzzles. She continued other exercises, including water aerobics, long walks, bicycling, then a 3-wheeler with her Shih-tzu in a front basket. Soon known to the entire neighborhood making frequent stops for front yard conversations. No one was ever a stranger! Later she used an electric 3-wheeler. During her last year, many health problems arose. She used a walker for a while but movement by wheelchair became necessary. She became bedridden finally. Winnie received no end of assistance and encouragement throughout these painful months. She was a strong woman.

Winnie had a full life. Her family kept growing to her delight. They have continuously shown their love. Church life enlarged. Music increased. Travel was enjoyed.

Her life ended July 17, 2020 at age 80. We mourn the loss while celebrating Winnie’s life.

Edwina Fern Clark, newspaper version.

Winnie Clark died at home Friday, July 17th in Temple Terrace Florida at the age of 80. She was born Edwina Fern Precht October 5, 1939 in Mexico Missouri. Her parents were Earl Edwin Precht and Fern Meranda (Kettrey) Precht. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, James N. Clark; three children: Melanie Tomlinson of Brighton Michigan, Jim Clark of Tampa, and Lisa Clark of Tampa; four grandchildren: Jennifer Vanderhyde, Max Clark, Jack Clark and Catherine Clark; and three great grandchildren: Ryan, Emily and Tyler Vanderhyde. She is also survived by her sister Mary Ann, and preceded by her sister Beverly Jean. Her family was her greatest joy.

Winnie grew up in Mexico, Missouri, where she met her husband Jim in high school. They were married August 14th, 1956. They graduated together in 1962 from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Winnie with a degree in Education. They lived in Thomasville, Georgia from 1962 to 1969, Brighton, Michigan from 1969 to 1988, and have been in Temple Terrace, Florida since 1988.

Winnie loved children, babies in particular. She taught pre-school for several years after they moved to Michigan. She then taught adult education in Brighton until they moved to Florida, finding joy in helping adults who had not finished high school succeed. She received a Masters degree in Education from Eastern Michigan University in 1981. She assisted Jim with the administrative side of his job after the move to Florida until his retirement in 2012.

She loved to travel in the US and internationally, and to visit family. She was very social, befriending people everywhere she went. She loved visiting people, having visitors, and parties. She loved music, playing the piano and singing in the church choir. She was a very active member in Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Brighton, and St. Paul’s Lutheran in Tampa. She walked, rode her bike with her dog in the basket, and did water aerobics for years, in spite of the early onset of arthritis. She was an avid reader and loved movies. She crocheted and made many types of crafts over the years. She’d be the first one to the beach and the last to leave the Straz Theatre after a performance. She had several beloved dogs over her lifetime.

Flowers and plants welcome. Her favorite charities are The Arthritis Foundation, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

She was a devoted wife. Her love of children and family made her simply the best mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was sweet, genuine, nice, and not cynical. She was an extrovert, and literally everyone she knew loved her.