John Lucas Winkler

John Lucas Winkler died on December 12, 2014 in Austin, Texas. John fought a long, hard battle with cancer since 2009. Born in Vernal, Utah, John travelled the nation and Europe with his parents, John Hubert Winkler Jr. and Conway Alice Lucas Winkler (both deceased), and sister through his father’s company, Schlumberger. In John’s junior year of high school, the family settled down in Missouri City, Texas. John had a love for the water and swam both summer and club swim teams wherever he lived. Once he graduated from high school and headed to Duke University, he had a successful college swimming career.

In addition to swimming, John graduated Duke University May 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Computer Science. John truly enjoyed his career as a software engineer.

John is survived by his wife of 17 years, Anneth Marie Hethcoat Winkler of Austin, Texas, and their three sons, John Martin Winkler, Samuel Hethcoat Winkler, and Thomas Edward Winkler; his sister, Maria G. Winkler McGrath, her husband, Ian McGrath, and their three children, Conway McGrath, Washington McGrath, and Maria L. McGrath.

John and Anneth met in 1995 and shared a love of swimming, water sports, biking, and dancing. They married on March 15, 1997 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. Austin has been their home ever since. Together, a Masters’ swim club was established in their community wherein “Coach John” was the man whom everyone truly loved. In addition, John continued to swim competitively through Masters’ swimming and had continued success.

God blessed John and Anneth with 3 boys who, as well, have found a love of water. All three are very successful swimmers – both competitively and recreationally.

John will rest in peace in the columbarium at St. Paul’s UMC in Houston, Texas next to both his parents. A memorial service will be held in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Christopher House, http://www.hospiceaustin.org.

To share your memories and condolences with John’s family, please visit www.cookwaldenchapelofthehills.com