Henry Harry Winkler

Henry H. Winkler, age 83, Kansas City, Missouri passed away June 8th, 2013 at Baylor Hospital, Dallas, Texas. The funeral and visitation will be held at Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road. Visitation 10:00 a.m. followed by funeral service 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 13.

Henry was born in Vienna, Austria on June 8th, 1930. Henry and his family left Austria for Italy in 1939 after Nazi occupation. Italy was at the time the only country to accept Austrian Jews. They stayed in southern Italy in refugee camps until liberated by the Americans. After liberation of Rome the American and British open resettlement camps in Cinecitta, and there the Winkler family was one of the first to arrive. That is when Henrys working career began. He had several jobs but the biggest one was with the Jewish Social Resettlement, first in Rome and then in Milan. At the age of 18 he was in charge of this operation with a multi-thousand dollar budget. When this job terminated he was ready to come to the United States but his father got sick and he postponed his trip and took a job with Union Carbide in Milan. After his father passed, his friends brought Henry to Kansas City. It was always Henry's dream to come to America. At the age of 21 he arrived in America on November 23, 1951.

Henry started working in the floor covering industry. Through years of hard work and determination he came to own the company known as E.F. Selby. Throughout his lifetime Henry was known as a prominent businessman and entrepreneur that was respected and admired by many.

Henry was an avid Chiefs fan and Red Coater. He also participated in the selling bonds to build Arrowhead.

Henry enjoyed and treasured his wife, family, and friends and lived life with a passion. A man that was to true to his word and he lived the American dream.

He was preceded in death by parents and sister. Henry is survived by wife Pat Winkler of 30 years, Kansas City, Missouri; daughters, Cynthia Jones, Kansas City, Missouri, Pamela Taney, Liberty, Missouri and son Brent Schmeusser, Kansas City, Missouri; granddaughters, Mikayla Winkler and Jennifer Karr, and niece, Sonia Eichenwall, Overland Park, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to the American Lung Association, 2400 Troost Avenue, Suite 4300, Kansas City, Missouri 64108. Condolences may be offered at www.mtmoriah-freeman.com.