Norma Lenhart Winkler

Norma Jean Lenhart Winkler, age 95, passed away peacefully at her home in Ladera Ranch, California on Sunday, January 12, 2025. She was born January 24, 1929, in Louisville, Kentucky, but she had considered Indianapolis to be her principal home, after having lived here from 1964 until 2013.

Mrs. Winkler leaves three children, as well as two stepsons. Her daughter, Holly Ann (Winkler) Robinson and Husband Glyn of San Juan Capistrano, CA sons Christopher L. Hodapp and wife Alice if Indianapolis, Thomas S. Atkins of Indianapolis, granddaughter Heather Nicole Atkins, and grandson Cole Benjamin Robinson. Surviving stepsons are Michael D. Winkler (Colorado Springs, CO) and Eric D. Winkler (Yamhill, OR), and his children, Skyler, Alexandra and Tianna Winkler.

Mrs. Winkler was a woman of great generosity and imagination, an active and vital part of Indianapolis during the period of its greatest growth. It would be impossible to list all the boards and organizations for the betterment of the city on which she served. Norma was a founding Heartland Film Festival board member, a trustee of the Rock Island Refining Foundation, and served on the board of directors of the Indianapolis Opera Foundation, Indiana Repertory Theatre and Indianapolis Repertory Society, as well as People of Vision, Dance Kaleidoscope, American Cabaret Theatre, St. Mary’s Child Center, National Endowment for St. Mary of the Woods in Terre Haute, and Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School. Her commitment to children was also reflected in her work for Children First fundraisers. She was president of St. Luke Mothers club, co-chair of the Cathedral High School Shamrauction, and an active member of the Saint Luke parish council, which led to some very hands-on projects, such as resettling Vietnamese refugee families. She was a recipient of the Brebeuf President’s Medal, and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Marian University.

We invite friends and family to join us in honoring the life of our beloved mother with a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Luke Catholic Church (7575 E Holliday Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46260) on Friday, January 24th at 11:30am. The family will begin receiving visitors at 10:00am. Following Mass, a graveside service will take place at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens (9700 Allisonville Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46250) at approximately 1:15 PM.

A reception will be held at Capri Italian Restaurant, 2602 Ruth Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46240, beginning between 2:00 and 2:30 PM, to gather in celebration of her extraordinary life.

We look forward to sharing this time with all who were touched by her kindness and love.

Donations in Norma’s name would be welcomed for her favorite charity, The Little Sisters of the Poor in Indianapolis, the Saint Augustine Home on West 86th Street.