Steve Winkle

Steve Winkle

James Stephen (Steve) Winkle, of Muscle Shoals, AL, passed away on Saturday night (10/21/23).

Steve was born on May 7, 1948, to B. H. and Trula Winkle in Norris, TN.  After Steve graduated from Sheffield High School, he went on to study at Samford University and finished his degree at Florence State University (later The University of North Alabama) while serving as Youth minister at Woodmont Baptist (Florence) and Valdosta Baptist (Tuscumbia).

After graduating he attended basic training at Fort Bragg for the Army Reserves and served at Young Life's Summer Camps.  During that summer, Steve met Maureen Girdley at Young Life Colorado Camp.  Steve and Maureen went on to marry and have two children, Michael Stephen (Steve) and Sharmin Michelle.

Later in life, Steve came home to Sheffield where he worked for TVA and then Sheffield school board.  During this season, he met and married Rilly Strona and they had David Joseph.

At this time, Steve became the owner of the beloved amusement park, Winkle World and ran it with pride for 20+ years.

And finally, he married Nancy Copeland Woodis in 2014 while being retired from the Sheffield school board.

In all his years, he loved having coffee with friends and asking what they had learned from the Lord lately.  He was also a skilled house flipper - before it was cool.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, B. H. and Trula Winkle.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Winkle, his son Steve Winkle (Ashley), his daughter Sharmin Dickson (Donny), his son David Winkle (Brit), plus grandchildren Skyler, Chloe, Gunnor, MaKadyn, Briar and Gaites.  His step-children Huston, Woodis (Lindsey), and Anna Grace Woodis plus step-granddaughter, Collins.

Visitation will be held at Colbert Memorial Funeral Home on Friday, October 27, 12 - 2 pm with services immediately following.  Shane Swinney will be officiating. Burial will be in Colbert Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Billy Kerley, James McCarley, Donny Dickson, Huston Woodis, Wally Copeland, Larry Marshall, and Mike Bradford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Steve Winkle to Campus Outreach Ministries (https://www.campusoutreach.org/donate) or Community Outreach Program at First Presbyterian Church Sheffield (130 E. Fifth Street, Sheffield, AL 35661).

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