Paul Ronald Winckler, 86, of Sanbornville, NH, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on June 27, 2025 after a long bout with stomach cancer.
Born on February 19, 1939, Paul was the son of Elvin Seymour and Inez Gilpatrick Winckler of Portland, Maine. He graduated from Deering High School in 1957 and the University of Maine at Orono in 1961. After serving in the Army, Paul met and married Jacqueline Beaulier. Paul was a claims adjuster for Kemper Insurance, Royal Globe and Travelers Insurance, and sold insurance for IDS. While living in Auburn, Maine, both Paul and Jackie became active in the Newcomers Club, the Jaycees and UCT (United Commercial Travelers).
Paul became a national award winning salesman selling business management, operational and safety programs for the Bureau of Business Practice, a division of Simon & Schuster, starting in 1973. In the 1990’s Paul and Jackie enjoyed several cruises. He retired for 3 months in 1995 before starting his own business at home, PR Promotions, selling imprinted promotional products with Jackie, retiring for the second time in 2013. They became snow birds in Florida that next year and continued to go to Vero Beach through the spring of 2024. They celebrated their 60th anniversary on October 10 of 2024.
Paul has enjoyed being part of Sanbornville, serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce for 2 terms where he organized the Red Cross Blood Drive and the Wakefield Brookfield Effingham Historical Society for 4 years producing a picture book of Wakefield. He served on the Budget Committee, the Zoning Board and was head of the Planning Board. He was active in the Republican Club and the Opera House Restoration group, WPI. He was named Wakefield Citizen of the Year in 2010.
Paul loved music and was a member of the Clearlakes Chorale, the Granite State Choral Society, the Village Players, St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Choir, and the Treasure Coast Chorale and Holy Cross Catholic Church Choir in Florida as well. He performed solos in local variety shows like the Bearded Wonders and the Union Friday Night shows. He emceed the Pride Day Parade and the Bearded Wonders shave off for several years. In 2016 he started Sing Along with Paul, leading members of many nursing homes and senior centers through his book of oldie songs along with trivia and jokes, throughout New Hampshire and Maine and Florida too. He was featured on WMUR’s New Hampshire Chronicle in 2022. Long a card player, he slid into retirement by learning bridge and playing bi weekly.
Paul’s faith was very important to him and he became a Catholic in 2006 attending mass daily and serving as a lector. He meditated daily since 1977 after hearing Roy Masters of The Foundation of Human Understanding on the radio. He helped out in any way he could at the Lighthouse Pregnancy Crisis Center. He also organized the Meals on Wheels program for Wakefield and was a hospital volunteer in Florida.
But it was at home that he was the star with his kids. The minute he walked through the door after traveling for several days he was on the floor wrestling with them. On the weekend he could be found playing ball, games of any kind or sliding with his and the neighborhood kids.
You couldn’t embarrass Paul. He always had a quick answer, usually funny and often pointed. He could think on his feet, and quickly. Never at a loss for words, his light hearted banter, vibrant personality, high energy and love for his family will be missed.
Paul is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Winckler, his 3 children, Betsey Jane Rogers, Ronald Paul Winckler, and Sally Ann (and Matthew) Francis; his 4 grandchildren, Jackson Cole and Sadie Jacqueline Rogers and Anna Kathleen and Samuel Bennett Francis; nephews Richard, Jr. and Mark and cousin Donald (and Mary) Winckler and several other cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 half brothers, Elvin (Bud) Winckler and Richard Winckler and cousin Beverly Karantza.
The Funeral will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 251 Meadow Street in Sanbornville, NH on July 2 at 12:00 p.m. with visiting hours at Peaslee’s Funeral Home, 2079 Wakefield Road in Sanbornville from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. prior to the funeral mass. Interment will be at Lovell Lake Cemetery on Route 109 by the lake. A luncheon will be held at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 118 High Street, Sanbornville after the burial.
Our sincerest thanks and gratitude to all those who reached out, visited with, cared for and prayed for Paul during his time of need. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to 40 Days for Life, 4112 East 29th Street, Bryan, TX 77802 or Cornerstone VNA, 178 Farmington Road, Rochester, NH 03867.
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