Jerry Dan Winn, 72, of Lufkin passed away peacefully in St.Luke's Hospital in Lufkin on December 3, 2019. He was born in Hermann Hospital, in what is now known as the Houston Medical Center, on July 25, 1947 to Daniel Stanford and MayDell Ward Winn. Jerry was preceded in death by his mother and father, sister Carol Sue and infant brother Daniel. Among those left behind to respect, cherish and protect his memory are Karen, his wife of 29 years; kids Shannon, Jarret (and his wife Giza), Nathan (and his wife Staci), and Ernie; his sister, Di Anne Wallingford, and big brother, Richard (Dickie) Winn; his grandkids Lance, Gab, Sebastian, and Dan; his cousins, nieces, nephews and their kids; numerous friends and coworkers; his comfort dog, Lucky, and Gato the cat (his arch nemesis).

Being the baby in a family with 4 children, Jerry was understandably spoiled rotten and acquired several childhood nicknames that followed him into adulthood. GooGoo Baby and Little Willie come to mind. He grew up playing and exploring with his brother and cousins around the San Jacinto Battlegrounds. They were a large, close extended family of aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins and neighbors. Jerry looked back on those days on Jenkins with nothing but happiness. One of his favorite stories was of he and his cousin Adrian pulling their little wagon and calling themselves "The Lucky Firemen". The only problem was he and Adrian set the fires they put out.

In his early teens he moved to Shiro, Texas to live with his Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Robert to work on ranches and handle show cows with his cousin, Mike. He attended Navasota High School and there he met his lifelong friend, Hank Craddock. Jerry loved to tell the story of him and Hank driving an old Chevy with no shocks across the Galveston causeway bridge. He said it was jumping so high by the time they got on the island side of the bridge that it was coming off the pavement.

After high school Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and proudly served his country for 4 years. He used to joke that basic training was great after working on ranches. He could sleep till 5, swim every day and didn't have to lead cows when he ran. After his service ended Jerry went to work for Oxirine Chemical at Bayport, which later became Arco Chemical, and later Lyondell Chemical. He retired after 32 years as a #1 operator and was affectionately known as "The Dirty Paw" to all his "pups" as he liked to call the guys he trained. Many lasting friendships were made in those 32 years.

After his retirement, Jerry and Karen moved to a little farmhouse on 12 acres in Woodlake, Texas that he named "Homer and Piggy's Farm". Many good times with friends and family were enjoyed in Woodlake over the years. When Jerry and Karen would return to Woodlake after being away he would always remark upon crossing back into Trinity County on Hwy.287, "We're back in the Promised Land, Piggy!". Jerry's rapidly declining health made it necessary to move to Lufkin in 2016, but he still enjoyed taking a ride to "the old house" and spending a little time sitting outside watching the birds at "Homer and Piggy's Farm" whenever possible.

Jerry enjoyed fishing with his brother, attending live theater, especially if his friends were involved in the production, mowing with his tractor at Woodlake, taking "a little snooze" in his chair, watching the Cowboys, win or lose and teasing the people he loved. He was one of a kind, a proud union member of the International Union Of Operating Engineers Local #347, proud Liberal in the best sense of the word, a Christian, and a veteran who loved his country. He was kind, generous, fiercely loyal, aggravating and exasperating - all the things and more that made Jerry, Jerry.

The family would like to thank all of Jerry's caregivers and doctors who have been instrumental in prolonging his quality of life. This includes Dr. Sung and Ludie Barrow for taking such excellent care of Jerry for the past 27 years, the wonderful staff and therapists at ARC in Lufkin, and ICU nurses and special staff at Chi St. Luke's in Lufkin for their compassion and care for Jerry and the friends and staff at the Charles Wilson VA Outpatient Clinic in Lufkin, Texas.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, December 9, 2019 at 9:45 at
Houston National Cemetery
10410 Veteran's Memorial Dr
Houston Tx 77038

Services arranged by Groveton Funeral Home, Directors. Please sign the online guestbook and share your memories with the family.