Kristopher Roland Windham

1975 - 2021

Kristopher Roland Windham
March 8, 1975 - December 12, 2021
Castroville, Texas - Kristopher (Kris) Windham of Castroville, Texas passed away peacefully at home at the age of 46 on December 12, 2021 after a lifelong debilitating battle with Crohn's Disease. Kris was born March 8, 1975 in Columbia, S. C. to his parents Leo Windham and Linda Minnick Tomczyk. He departed this life exactly as he lived it – on his terms.
Kris was an exceptional, unforgettable individual. From the tender age of four, he knew he wanted to play the piano. He studied and worked hard and became an accomplished pianist. He won many awards, played in several bands, and recorded countless hours of music. He taught himself to read before he started kindergarten and excelled at math, even scoring a perfect score on the SAT.
Kris left high school early to attend the College of Charleston on a full pre-med scholarship but had to drop out due to health reasons. During his 46 years, he traveled to Nicaragua to surf, followed the Grateful Dead, and visited every state in the country except Alaska. He met some incredible people and made lifelong friends along the way. He taught himself how to program computers when the internet was still young and worked with multiple well-known companies. He became known as the guy who could figure things out when the "experts" said it couldn't be done.
Kris possessed a lifelong love of learning. He read every medical journal article he could get his hands on. He had a photographic memory and could memorize long trails of numbers. Kris was a voracious reader and loved Stephen King. He also loved languages and was fluent in Russian and Spanish. He liked to say he was a walking encyclopedia of trivial music facts. He loved and listened to all types of music and appreciated all artists and groups.
Despite all his accomplishments, Kris was most proud of his children. He taught them to surf, and he instilled in them a love and appreciation for nature and family. He adored them and loved being their father.
Kris is survived by his wife, Jennifer Windham; son, Aren Windham; daughters, Rose, Sylvia, and Ruby Windham (mother, Jennifer Kline); Lydia Slade (mother, Katie Slade); stepsons, Jordan and Zachary Chandler, stepdaughters, Bryanna Mesmer and Allison Chandler, parents, Leo (Jane) Windham and Linda (Corky) Tomczyk, and brother, David (Ginny Gast) Windham.
In accordance with his wishes, a Celebration of Life and Paddle Out ceremony will be held at a later date in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Though we deeply mourn Kris, we are comforted by the knowledge that he is no longer in pain and we know we will see him again.