Michael Clyde Winn

1936 - 2021

Michael Clyde Winn, born in Chicago in 1936 and a resident of Lake Forest, Illinois, passed on to his eternal home on November 27, 2021, in Key Biscayne, Florida. He died exactly as he lived, in conversation with God and in the arms of his beloved wife. He leaves behind his best friend and greatest earthly treasure of 62 years, Jacqueline (Newberg) Winn and their 8 children; Mary (Mark) Culhane, Katherine (Thomas) Frelk, Jennifer (John) Madigan, Elizabeth (John) Rybarczyk, Michael (Laura) Winn, Helen (Anthony) Patti, Margaret (Richard) Williams, and Christine (Daniel) Costanzo. He is the esteemed grandfather of Ryan, Elizabeth, Catherine, Thomas, Michael, Rebecca, Jacqueline, Mary, Kateri, Sean, John, Therese, Daniel, Genevieve, Helen, Christine, Michael, Nicole, Allison, Anna, Patrick, Margaret, Jack, Helen, Maximilian, Olivia, Sophia, Grace, Liam, Samuel, Isabella, Sarah, Nicholas, Corah, Michaella, Nathaniel, Anthony, Gabriella, Francesca, Marcello, Lucia, Gianpaolo, Stefano, Fiona, Rosemary, Thérèse, Benjamin, Lillian, Charlotte, Rocky, Leo, Jack, Maria, Gabriel, Helena, Teresa, Daniel, Cecelia, Guiseppe, and Michael, and beloved great-grandfather of 21 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Helen (Clifford) Winn, and his sisters Catherine Adams and Mary Jurgens. Guided by his loving parents, Mike built a life upon his unshakeable love of his Roman Catholic faith and his vocation as a husband, father, leader, and friend. Inspired by the teachings of St. Josemaría Escrivá, and the love of his wife, he faithfully lived a holy and well-ordered life and strove to do all things with great love. The only physical possessions he cherished were his scapular, his father's rosary and his wedding ring. His family and countless friends grieve the loss of his counsel, his example of fidelity, his unfailing leadership with a servant's heart, his irreproachable integrity, his strength in times of suffering, his wisdom, his modeling of virtue by example, his prudence in all things, his unvarnished honesty, his ability to heroically forgive, his humility in his flaws and overlooking the flaws in others, his immeasurable generosity, his singing of Irish songs, his wonderfully dry sense of humor, his graceful dancing, his enthusiastic cheering-on of The Chicago Bears, his irreplaceable squeeze-hugs, his efficiency in packing dishwashers and trunks, his storytelling, his side-splitting laughter, his love of back scratches and his famous turkey soup. His family and friends find great consolation in the fact that his love and care for them will only be expanded and perfected in the presence of God his Father, Our Blessed Mother Mary and all the angels and the saints. Mike avoided accolades, thanks and recognition for his many good works and he strove to give, having his left hand not know what his right hand was doing. His philanthropic and professional legacies are too prolific to recount with justice. He gave of his time and wisdom to many entities by sitting on the boards of Midtown Educational Foundation, The Willows Academy, Relevant Radio and Mundelein Seminary. He and his wife were founders of Cary Grove Citizens for Life, he was a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher, and a member of Legatus. For 27 years he organized and worked countless camps and retreats year-round at Wynncliff. He was an executive by day and on the weekends he changed bedsheets, mowed the grass, washed stacks of dishes, grilled a million burgers and quietly served all who came to Wyncliff for respite. He found his professional home at Hollister Inc. in 1974 when he was offered a position as Vice President of Legal Affairs. It was at Hollister he met his mentor, John D. Schneider, a man he admired and revered for his business sense and steadfast personal virtue. Mr. Schneider entrusted Mike with the position of President and CEO of Hollister, Inc. where he followed the example of Mr. Schneider, always putting people over profits; even giving away his controlling interest for the benefit of future employees, as Mr. Schneider had done before him. Mike's belief that his work was his vocation, and not his occupation, guided him in making all decisions for the good of others without considering his own self-interests. He was a man who believed that being faithful to his prayer life and his promises allowed God to multiply his time each day...and He did. He completed herculean tasks, made time for all his many family and friends, would drop everything to talk with his children and grandchildren, ate dinner with his family almost every night and made sure to put his work away and live purposeful leisure with his wife and family. He took the gift of his life and time seriously, and consciously wasted none of it. He exhorted all he knew, in joy and sorrow, Omnia in Bonum, "All things work for good for those who love God." (Romans 8:28) His hope resided in God alone, and he did his best in all things with love. Visitation will take place at St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church, 1810 N. Hermitage Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60622 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Friday, December 10, 2021. A funeral Mass will begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by internment at Ascension Cemetery, Libertyville, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wynncliff Inc. at www.Wynncliff.org.