Jerome David Winegar

June 26, 1968 – December 22, 2018

Posted

On December 22, 2018, David Winegar, 50, passed away suddenly due to a heart attack in his home in Port Townsend.
David was born on June 26, 1968 in Kansas City, Kansas to Karen Hampton Idstrom and Jerome Clark Winegar joining older sister Kristin Koestler. He grew up in Minnesota and Massachusetts. Returning to Minnesota in his late teens, he welcomed his daughter, Ashlee, in 1989 with partner Susan Luke. He found his way to Colorado in 1996 where he met his former wife, Anne Dean, and welcomed his second child, Nico Winegar.
From the minute he stepped foot in Jefferson County, WA in 2001, this was his home. After enjoying time as a stay-at-home dad, David began working in Information Services at Jefferson County in 2003. He found another calling to serve his community by joining the Port Townsend Police Department in 2004 as a reserve police officer. In 2007, David and Anne added son, Nate Winegar, to their family.
David enjoyed living in the moment and participating in his children’s lives from proudly sitting in the stands and on the sidelines for football, basketball and soccer games to playing video games with the kids. He beamed at the mention of daughter Ashlee following in his footsteps as she entered the field of law enforcement. David loved his camaraderie with his coworkers at both the county and in emergency services. He always shared the joy from numerous pranks and his sense of fulfillment from helping others.
Survivors include his daughter Ashlee Bahl (Alex), sons Nico and Nate Winegar, his mother and step-father Karen and Tom Idstrom, his step-mother Bel Winegar, his brother Jonathan Winegar-Mendez, nieces Allison Radziej and Caitlin Federici, nephew Seth Koestler and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. His memory will be celebrated by his long-time partner Heather La Due and her girls Celinda, Ashton and Auguste. David’s memory will also be held high and preserved by his former spouse Anne Dean and her family including Mary Dean, William and Christine Dean, Kate Dean, Will O’Donnell, Rennie and Finn O’Donnell, and Liz, Jacob, Freya and Maren Covey. Preceding him in death was his father Jerome Clark Winegar and sister Kristin Koestler. Regardless of formality and changes in structure, David knew this was his family.
A memorial service will be held at the Fort Worden State Park Commons Building on January 4, 2019 at 12 noon. All friends and family are welcome to attend. Reception to follow in the USO Hall at Fort Worden. Please join us in creating a memory book for his children by emailing your thoughts, pictures and remembrances to: davidwinegarmemorybook@gmail.com. In addition, there will be a memory book station at the memorial service.
David will be remembered for his quiet nature, quick wit, amazing smile and his love for his family and friends.
His family expresses their gratitude and appreciation for the outpouring of love and support received by their extended family, friends and the entire Jefferson County community.