David Lee Winchester

David Lee Winchester (82) passed away on February 5, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. A public visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory (8201 Hickman Road Urbandale, IA 50322) at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at McDivitt Grove Cemetery at 2:00 p.m. Military honors have been accorded. To leave a condolence, please visit: www.caldwellparrish.com

David Lee Winchester was born on 22 February 1941 in Minden, Nebraska. He was adopted as a newborn by Virgil and Mildred Winchester and raised on multiple farms in central and western Iowa. Dave often spoke of the hard work of his youth as an only child on the farm. Once, when his son Chad’s power went out in the heat of an Iowa summer, he asked his dad how he survived without air conditioning back in the day. Dave replied that many of the farms that he grew up on didn’t even have electricity! There was no one-upping Dave!

Dave attended DeSoto High School where his mother was the head cook and his father drove a school bus. Dave was class president all four years and excelled at most sports but was exceptional at baseball as both a pitcher and a catcher.

Dave enlisted in the United States Navy in 1958 at the age of 17. He completed boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes during the summer between his junior and senior years of high school. After graduating in 1959 and completing further naval training, he was assigned as a gunner’s mate to AGR-14, the USS Interpreter, a radar picket ship. Dave would often fondly tell stories of his times at sea (and of liberty in Tijuana!). When anyone would ask him what years he served in the Navy, his favorite response was “Bud, I served when the Navy made wooden ships and iron men!”

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Dave tried out for the San Francisco Giants. He was told that he had a good bat and was a solid fielder but lacked big league speed. After working multiple jobs for a short time, Dave joined the Iowa Army National Guard full time in 1969 and would serve in the Guard for 31 years, retiring in 2000 with the rank of CW4. During his time in the military, Dave earned many decorations and awards including the Legion of Merit. He was very proud to say that he had served his country in 6 different decades under 9 different presidents.

Dave reunited with his high school sweetheart Carol Riley in 1982. They were joined in marriage in 1984 and remained married until his death. Dave loved fishing, particularly the annual Minnesota trip that he and Carol made for many years. He loved many sports including baseball, hockey and basketball. He was a lifelong Cardinals fan and a long suffering, with the exception of 1985, Bears fan. Dave coached his sons little league baseball teams for many years, passing along his immense knowledge of the sport to many young players. Dave was a masterful poker, cribbage and chess player always welcoming a challenge from anyone. Dave will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was incredibly proud of his family particularly his grandchildren often surveying his house full of family on holidays and saying proudly, “Not bad for an adopted only child!”

He is survived by Carol, his wife of nearly 40 years, sons Todd, Troy (Debbie) Winchester, Chad (Melissa McDonald), Chad Morgan (Ingrid) and daughter Cari Rothfus, grandsons Derek (Kayli) Winchester, Cale (Carly) Winchester, Alec Winchester, Jack Winchester, Christopher Morgan and granddaughter Sydney Winchester, great granddaughters Willow, Ellie and Meadow.