Eileen Josephine Winegard, 99, of Scottsdale, Ariz., died Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, at her home.
Eileen was born on Oct. 6, 1922 in Lomax, Ill. to Dorothea Johanna Pence and Leroy Frederick Pence. She attended Lomax schools, St. Paul’s Catholic High School, and Burlington High School, where she graduated in 1940. She attended one year at Burlington Junior College. After school, she worked at the J.C. Penney Co., and then the Iowa Ordinance Plant in the personnel office.
Eileen married John Robert Winegard on May 1, 1943, in San Antonio, Texas. After the couple returned to Burlington, Eileen provided an investment of $600 to start the Winegard Company.
Eileen dedicated her time to fundraising for her parish church, St. Patrick’s, and volunteering at the Burlington Hospital gift store. She later started her own business, The Gift Station, which she ran for several years. After moving to Arizona in 1979, she became an active member of Maria Goretti Catholic Church.
She is survived by her sister, Roberta; son, Randy; daughter, Nancy; four granddaughters; one grandson; and one great-granddaughter.
The Memorial Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 21 at Divine Mercy Parish, SS. Mary and Patrick's Catholic Church, in West Burlington. A luncheon will follow at Catfish Bend Casino Events Center in Burlington. Private family inurnment will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 22 in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in Eileen’s name for the Evans Scholarship Program.