Rene F. Winward was born on January 27, 1931 in Whitney, Idaho, to Fielding H. Winward and Josie Jane Allred. He passed away peacefully in his sleep February 19, 2019 at the Rocky Mountain Care facility in Logan, Utah. Rene was everyone’s best friend. He had a zest for life and looked forward to serving all those around him. The joy he brought to others was endless. His reason for life was to serve, especially in family history.
Rene married Gaye Neeley on June 3, 1953 in the Logan LDS temple. They had three children, Ladell Winward, Donna Gaye Walton, and Janet Frisby. After Gaye passed away, he married Renée Bringhurst Baugh on August 16, 2002, adding another son, Brevan, and several more grandchildren to his life. Rene served many years in the Army and became a lieutenant. He spent his career as an engineer, working for Thiokol, and then 29 years at USU as a machinist, tool maker, and designer. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving in many capacities including as a clerk for many years and as a missionary in the genealogy library.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Gaye Neeley; brother, Lee (Julie) Winward; and one grandson, William Andrew Winward. He is survived by wife, Renée B. Winward; brothers and sisters Brookie (Bern) Herzog, Rea (Mark) Nielsen, Reed (Joann) Winward, Lyle (Eileen) Winward, Lynn (Joleen) Winward, Gayla Bennett; children Ladell (Sidney) Winward, Donna Gaye (Burt) Walton, and Janet (Bruce) Frisby; stepson Brevan (Audrey) Baugh; 16 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and one great-on-the-way, due Sept 30th.
Special thanks to his hospice nurse, David, and the medical team Rocky Mountain Care, also to Cache Valley Mortuary for assisting in the funeral arrangements. Friends and family are welcome to attend the viewing service on Wednesday, February 27 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Providence 5th Ward building: 355 Canyon Road, Providence, UT 84332. A viewing will be held at the same location on Thursday, February 28 from 9:30 to 10:30 am, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am; internment will be at the Whitney Idaho Cemetery at 2:30 pm.. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rene F. Winward Funeral Fund at Bank of Utah.