John Edwin Winnecke

John Edwin Winnecke, 66, of Hawesville, beloved husband of Marilyn Cates Winnecke, passed away Friday, June 4, 2004, at his home. He is also survived by his son, Christopher Cates Winnecke and his wife Robin, and his two granddaughters, Katlyn Elizabeth Winnecke and Brooklyn Grace Winnecke, all of Owensboro, a sister, Mary Ann Stephens and her huband, Joe of Clarksville, TN, his in-laws, Ed and Pat Cates of Brandenburg and Nellaine and Gary Gorsuch of Louisville, six nieces and nephews, eight great nieces and nephews, and many cousins.

A 1956 graduate of Owensboro High School, Winnecke also earned a BA degree from Kentucky Wesleyan College in 1961, where he played on the tennis team and was a charter member of Kentucky Gamma of Sigma Phi Epsilon. While attending KWC he worked part-time as physical director of the Owensboro YMCA and as a sportswriter for the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer. After graduation he joined the Daviess County School System, where he taught ninth grade English and Civics, and eighth grade physical education, and coached freshman football and eighth grade basketball at Utica Junior High School. He then taught English and Journalism and coached sophomore baseball at Daviess County High School.

In 1967, he became sports editor for the Messenger-Inquirer, covering sports ranging from croquet to national boat racing and including basketball, football, baseball, track, golf, and the Kentucky Governors Cup Unlimited Hydroplane Regatta.

In 1971, he went to Eastern Kentucky University where he served as assistant director of news in the Division of Public Information before being named Radio-TV Editor in 1973. He later became Director of the Division of Public Information at Eastern, serving in the areas of writing, editing, photography, publications, press conferences, budgeting, and supervision. He earned and MA in Education from Eastern in 1973.

In 1980, Winnecke became Director of Public Relations at National-Southwire Aluminum Company in Hancock County, a position he held for seven years.

He returned to education with the Daviess County School system in 1987. At Apollo High School, he taught English and Journalism and coached tennis for several years. For 13 years he sponsored the school newspaper, The Challanger. He retired in 2000 but continued in a part-time capacity at Apollo until 2002, then taught English at Tell City High School and Tell City Junior High School until 2003.

Winnecke was an honorary member of the Future Homemakers of America. In 1970 he received the Budweiser national sportswriting award for coverage of unlimited hydroplane racing. In 1973 he was named a Kentucky Colonel by then governor Wendell Ford for promotion of the Kentucky Governors Cup Regatta. He served as the Voice of the Regatta in 1972, 1973, and 1975, providing public address information to over 100,000 racing fans during Regatta week.
Winnecke was a former member of the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, serving as president for two years. He was a member of Hawesville United Methodist Church, served on the board of directors of the Windward Heights Country Club, and worked on numerous community projects.

Services are at 1:00 p.m. Monday at Glenn Funeral Home, where visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday and after 11:00 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Community Foundation of Owensboro and Daviess County for the John Winnecke Journalism Scholarship Fund, 335 Frederica Street, Owensboro, KY 42301.