Dr. Susan H. Winchester

Susan H. Winchester, 74, of Gibbon, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Friday, September 12, 2025. Private family services will be held at a later date. Memorials in Susan’s honor are kindly suggested to the family for future designation. Craig Funeral Home in Minden is assisting the family. Susan was born on December 18, 1950 in Jefferson, Iowa, to Russell (Russ) and Ruth (Daubendiek) Harvey. She graduated from high school in Iowa Falls, Iowa. She then earned a BFA in Communications from Arizona State University Tempe. Following a move to Nebraska, she met, fell in love with, and was united in marriage on March 5, 1983 to Ray Winchester in Gibbon, Nebraska. Ray and Susan welcomed two children, James and Jake. Susan helped manage the farm in addition to starting a tailored mail order clothing business, “Sweeter Measures,” which at the time of its sale had seven employees and had customers in all fifty states and six countries. Susan served for many years on the West Iowa Bank Board of Directors and the West Iowa Telephone Company Board of Directors. Later in life, Susan was called to return to school where she became an RN, and then received her APRN from Vanderbilt University, and finally her Doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado, becoming Dr. Susan Winchester. She went on to practice in mental health and touched the lives of many patients and colleagues throughout her practice. Of all her accomplishments, her family was her greatest pride. She was a devoted and caring wife to Ray for 36 years until his passing in 2018. Her proudest accomplishments were her children and grandchildren. She had no greater love than her involvement in her children’s lives and her support for them in whatever endeavors they chose. She will be greatly missed as the one person in their lives that they could always come to and count on for unwavering support. Susan was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Ray. She is survived by her son, James, and daughter-in-law, Kristin, of Gibbon, Nebraska; son Jake, and daughter-in-law, Cristina, of Parker, Colorado; and grandchildren, Ray, Eddie, Walter, and Evelyn of Gibbon, Nebraska, and Arthur, of Parker, Colorado; sisters, Stephany Harvey, and longtime partner, Michael Thrasher, of Urbandale, Iowa, and Kathleen Harvey, and partner, Arnie Whalen, of White Lake, Michigan. As well as many friends and loved ones from a rich and full life well spent. Tributes and memories can be shared with the family at www.craigfunerals.com.

Dr. Susan H. Winchester

December 18, 1950 - September 12, 2025