Ann R. Winkel

Funeral Mass for Ann will be celebrated on Monday, March 31, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, 510 E. 1st St., Ankeny, Iowa 50021. The family will greet friends one hour prior to services at the church. Inurnment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Algona, Iowa, on Monday at 4:00 PM. The funeral will be live streamed on the Our Lady's Immaculate Heart Catholic Church website.
Ann was born in Algona, June 11, 1963, to Gordy and DeLores Winkel of Algona. She grew up with a house full of brothers: Steve, Scott, Gregg, Chris, and Mike. Ann was baptized, received first communion, and confirmed at St. Cecelia's Catholic Church in Algona. She graduated from Bishop Garrigan High School in 1981, where she participated on the dance team and enjoyed golf. After high school, Ann went to college at Iowa Central Community College. Her first professional job was at Edward D. Jones in Algona. She then went to Santa Barbara and worked as a Brokerage Assistant at E F Hutton & Co from 1986 to 1988.
After moving back to Iowa, Ann resided in Des Moines and worked at Iowa Bankers Association. Starting in Jan 1989, Ann held various positions working her way to Vice President of Education. While at Iowa Bankers, Ann managed training, events, and networking opportunities for the IBA's member organizations. Ann also served others by volunteering as a board member of MS Society from 2009 to 2011. She also was on the Advisory Board for the Leadership Iowa and Business Horizons from 2005 to 2007. Ann retired from Iowa Bankers after 33 years in 2022. After retiring, Ann and DeLores moved to Ankeny and have resided there for the last 3 years.
Ann's skill of caring about others and organizing events carried over to her personal life as well. She found joy in planning gatherings for family and friends so that they walked away feeling loved and important. These events typically included: games, prizes, and lottery tickets. She had a gift of making sure that everyone walked away with a prize after playing her games. She was a second Mom to her nieces and nephews in Memphis, TN and Ankeny, IA. She enjoyed setting up sleepovers and day long events to make sure they felt loved. Ann enjoyed riding her bike around Gray's Lake in Des Moines with friends and family.
Ann enjoyed exploring the country and helped plan and participate in many vacation adventures with her friends' group. Ann acted as the "cruise director", ensuring friends were entertained by preparing quizzes and games before departure and devising fun along the way. Ann loved hosting friends at her home and her gatherings were legendary. When guests walked in, all knew the gathering would be full of great food, conversation and fun, all expertly planned and executed by Ann.
Ann will be remembered for her kind and generous nature. Many describe Ann as one of the kindest individuals they have ever met, and her selfless nature was apparent in all her interactions with others.
Ann Winkel passed away on March 24, 2025, at her home in Ankeny, IA at the age of 61.
Ann is survived by her mother, DeLores and her siblings; Steve (Lee) Winkel of Memphis, Tennessee, Scott Winkel of Des Moines, Gregg Winkel of Algona, Chris (Cindy) Winkel of Ankeny and Mike Winkel of Des Moines. Her nieces and nephews, Whitney Winkel, Morgan (Britt) Winkel Wicker, Walker (Jayde) Winkel, Maddi Winkel, CJ Winkel, Jack Winkel and Luke Winkel and special friends, Mike Whitmer, Larry White, Susy Bates and Charlie Jordan.
She was preceded in death by her father, Gordy Winkel and beloved nephew Spencer Winkel.