Obituary on the death of Pastor Winkler: A servant of the Lord to the end

Being a pastor isn't a job - it's a life's work.

And Josef Winkler fulfilled this throughout his life – as a chaplain, as a pastor and finally as a retired pastor in the Irschenberg parish association.

He died yesterday early in the morning at the age of 82 after a short, serious illness.

The Oberland was Winkler's home.

He was born on July 6, 1940 in Miesbach, where he grew up on Wallenburger Straße, together with his brother and sister.

A youth that he himself remembered as formative.

He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1966. In the same year he celebrated his First Mass in Miesbach.

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This was followed by service abroad in the name of the Lord: as a chaplain for six years in Munich and two years in Reichenhall, then as a pastor for 16 years in Kirchheim near Munich and 20 years in Aschau am Chiemsee.

At his own request, he will be buried on Monday, December 5th, where he spent and worked for most of his life.

Down to earth and humble

It was September 2010 when Pastor Winkler retired and returned to the district of Miesbach.

He worked as a retired pastor in the Irschenberg parish association and enjoyed it very much – free from duties, but still inspired to serve the Lord and the people.

His sister Marlene Wick reports that he felt very comfortable in his apartment in the old school building in Frauenried.

The closeness to the family, sheepheads with the neighbors, mountain tours and hikes in nature brought joy to the down-to-earth and modest clergyman, who liked to read, appreciated classical music and lived without a television.

A pastor through and through

This also applies to pastoral care.

To the end he happily took part in church services, helped in the parish association where help was needed, acted as president of the Kolping family Irschenberg and as spiritual advisor at the Niklasreuth Mothers' Association.

"He was a pastor through and through," says parish association leader Tadeusz Kmiec-Forstner.

"Pious, helpful - a good man.

And he was always there.

Being a priest meant something to him.”

According to Pastor Tadeusz, the gap in the roster can somehow be closed, "but not the gap that he leaves behind as a person".

This also applies to his personal relationship.

"He was not only a brother but also a friend."

ddy