Adolph was born in Milwaukee on May 2, 1916. His parents were Adolph Winter, Sr. and Amalia (nee Goetter), whose other children were Orville, Dolores, and Carole. His mother’s ancestors migrated from Germany, and in 1848 established the Goetter farm that still exists in the Town of Cedarburg today. His father was a steamfitter in Milwaukee. Adolph Jr. graduated from North Division High School, and while in high school was a state junior champion and a city active men’s champion gymnast with the Milwaukee Turners. He was thus enabled to attend Normal College in Indianapolis, and became the first in his family to graduate from high school and attain a baccalaureate. He moved to Chicago after graduation, and there married his college sweetheart, Dorothea Holoubek, who also was the first in her family to graduate from high school and attain a university degree. Adolph Jr. taught gymnastics in Chicago and became a lifelong active member of the Turners in Illinois.
Adolph and Dorothea started a family, and Adolph switched careers from teaching physical education to mechanical engineering and metal forming manufacturing. They had four children, Clyde, Glenn, Lois, and Michael. In his mid-forties, Adolph went into partnership with a friend and together, for the rest of their working lives, they built and operated Sedwall Mfg. Co., a machine shop that continues in operation today. Adolph was a hard worker, a smart businessman with honesty and integrity, willing to take on the stiffest challenge or competition. Fifteen years later, Adolph and two friends were able to buy the family farm in Cedarburg. Adolph and Dorothea enjoyed vacations together, traveling through North America and Europe. Dorothea died in 1988, and Adolph turned the machine shop business over to his youngest son.
Adolph began commuting weekly between his Illinois home and family and part-time semi-retirement at the shop, and Wisconsin, where he enjoyed country living, doing farm maintenance, socializing, playing cards, square dancing and singing, travel adventures across North America, and the warm, hearty companionship of many friends and extended family, including the family and friends of his new sweetheart, Virginia Nicholas. In his 90’s, Adolph became unable to drive and Virginia died in 2010. Adolph’s weekly commute ended, becoming (two years ago) a biannual trip between the farm in Wisconsin and the home of his son and wife, in New Orleans, so he managed to avoid both the worst of Wisconsin winters, and the hurricane season on the Gulf of Mexico coast, while continuing to live with members of his family, and celebrating Pioneer Days and Oktoberfest in Ozaukee County, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and other holiday events with children and grandchildren and extended family, including the specially valued company of Margaret Schille. Adolph died (after a 3 week hospital struggle which began on New Years Eve in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin) on January 21, 2015 at age 98.
Adolph outlasted most of his contemporaries, but this was a bitter and increasingly lonely achievement for him, as he loved family and friends - too numerous to individually enumerate - and their company, more than anything else in life. He was the always sober, yet fun-loving, life of any party, with an unforgettably broad, beaming, genuine smile. Virtually everyone fortunate enough to know him well, respected and loved Adolph, and enjoyed his company. That may be because he was always of good humor, and basically respected people, treating everyone pretty much alike, regardless of their status or station in society. He set a fine example.
A memorial service will be held at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist church, 1828 Old Naperville Road, in Naperville, Illinois at 1 PM on Saturday February 28. All are invited.
RSVP 19mike55@comcast. See: http://www.dupageuuchurch.com/index.php/who-we-are?id=71
A gathering to celebrate Adolph’s life, and possibly an extended family reunion will be held at the Cedarburg farm later this year. Contact [email protected] for information.
Gatherings to remember Adolph will be held in New Orleans on or about May 2, and in Chicago in September. Contact [email protected] for information.
Instead of sending flowers, please contribute, in Adolph and Dorothea’s memory, to the Camp Brosius Fund. Make checks payable to the IU Foundation, write "Winter Memorial" in the memo line, and mail to Camp Brosius, 901 W. New York Street,

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