Obituary of Howard O. Winebrenner

Howard O. Winebrenner, age 88 of North Liberty, longtime Iowa City Businessman, died Wednesday, August 13, 2003 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 18, 2003, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Iowa City with the Reverend James Edwards officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday at the Burge Cemetery in New London, Iowa. Visitation will be from 4 to 7pm Sunday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Howard’s memory to Iowa City Hospice or the Mercy Foundation. Following the funeral services prior to leaving for the cemetery a reception will be held in the fellowship hall of the church, everyone is welcome to attend. Online condolences may be sent for Howard’s family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Howard was born July 31, 1915 in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, the son of Earl and Bertha Winebrenner. Graduated from high school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Howard married Gertrude Gabriault September 30, 1936 in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. Howard has owned and operated Ford Dealerships in a number of Cities for over forty-five years. Beginning in New London, Iowa from 1955 through 1967, from 1967 until retiring in 2000, Winebrenner Ford in Iowa City and during those years a dealership in Walker, Minnesota. He also owned Winebrenner Red Carpet Travel in Iowa City from 1992 until the present. He was known in this area as a strong supporter of the University of Iowa, having been awarded an honorary bachelor’s degree from former Vice President Phillip Hubbard for his many contributions to the University. The University of Iowa Athletic Department elected him as an honorary “Lettermen’s” due to his many contributions to the athletic program. One of Howard’s contributions which gave him great pride was starting the “Courtesy Car Program” for the Iowa Athletic Department in 1968. He was a member of the New London Presbyterian Church, Iowa City Noon Rotary Club, Iowa City Shrine Club, The Masonic Lodge, I-Club, and the University of Iowa President’s Club. His family includes his wife, Gertrude; daughters, Diana and her husbnad, Bob Hardy of New London, Iowa, and Stephanie Winebrenner-Gomez of North Liberty; son-in-law, Anibal Gomez of Seattle, WA; nine grandchildren, Miguel Gomez, Carolina Gomez, Patricia Cardenas, Cristina Villegas, Steve Wick, Janet Stauffer, Jeff Wick, Rob Wick and Sara Edgington; thirteen great-grandchildren, and a sister, Edith Schwehr of Milwaukee, WI. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Debra Ann at the age of five, and two sisters, and three brothers.