Christian Waldemar Winther, lovingly known as “Opa,” passed away peacefully on May 18, 2026, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply. He was 91 years old.

To know Opa was to know a man who filled every room he walked into. He was loud, joyful, emotional, stubborn, hilarious, deeply faithful, and impossible to ignore in the very best way. He loved attention, loved people, and loved life. He sang loudly, danced wildly, told stories that somehow got bigger every time, and made strangers feel like lifelong friends within minutes. There will never be another person quite like him.

Behind that larger-than-life personality was a man who had endured unimaginable hardship. Christian was a Holocaust survivor who carried both tremendous pain and extraordinary strength throughout his life. Rather than allowing tragedy to harden him, he chose compassion, faith, and love. He spoke to students and communities about his experiences so the world would never forget, and so future generations would understand the importance of humanity, kindness, and hope.

Devoted to God throughout his life, Opa’s faith guided everything he did. Through heartbreak, loss, joy, and celebration, he leaned on his faith and carried himself with grace. Even after all he endured, he remained warm, generous, funny, and endlessly loving — a reflection of the strength of his spirit.

More than anything, Opa loved his family.

He showed up. Always.

He showed up for weddings, graduations, birthdays, sporting events, dinners, celebrations, and ordinary days that became unforgettable simply because he was there. He asked about people’s lives and remembered the answers. He made everyone feel important. One server at Blythefield Country Club once shared how much she adored him because he never failed to ask about her and her family every time he saw her. That was Opa — he made people feel cared for.

And if you were lucky enough to be loved by him, you knew it.

He was preceded in death by his beloved first wife, Mary; daughter, Renee; grandson, Tyler; granddaughter, Brooke; and his parents, Waldemar and Jane.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Ellen Puper-Winther; his children, Walter (Bridget) Winther, Arthur (Valerie) Winther, Christian Winther II, Michele Andreas, Renée (John) Elderkin, and Michelle Puper-Hawkins; his cherished grandchildren, Amber (Philip) VanVolkinburg, Nichole Winther, Josh (Ashley) Andreas, Christian (Stephanie) Winther III, Matthew Winther, Jefferey (Lisa) Winther, Lauren (Sameer) Desai, Daniel (Ashley) Winther, Zachary Winther (Tedi Ellis), Austin (Margarita) Andreas, Nicholas Herrington (Sarah Yaple), Emily Elderkin (Jack Bowman), Sara Elderkin, Jessica Elderkin, and Matthew Elderkin; along with 29 beautiful great-grandchildren who brought him endless pride and joy.

He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Frits (Anna) Hoekstra and John Hoekstra.

Opa was a longtime member of Blythefield Country Club, where he became such a beloved fixture that he once even had a sandwich named after him — something that would have absolutely made him smile.

The world feels quieter without him in it.

There is an emptiness left behind by the loss of a man who loved so loudly and lived so fully. But there is also overwhelming gratitude — gratitude for his stories, his hugs, his laughter, his dancing, his faith, and the way he taught his family to keep showing up for one another no matter what life brings.

Christian’s life was extraordinary not because it was easy, but because despite everything he endured, he never stopped loving people.

He will be missed beyond words and remembered forever by all who had the privilege of calling him Opa.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

To read more about Christian’s Holocaust story and legacy, please visit: A Part of History, A Part of Me