Thorkil Winther
Services
Obituary
Thorkil Winther passed peacefully Saturday October 6th, 2018, at the Danish Home of Chicago, surrounded by his immediate family. Thorkil would have been 90 years old October 22nd, and was grateful for having lived a long, fulfilling life – most proud of having married ‘the woman of his dreams’, nee Ingrid Salvesen, and for raising ‘three beautiful daughters’ – Tina, Sonja and Linda.
Thorkil was born in Aarhus, Denmark, to Clara and Boye Winther, and had an elder sister, Inge, who preceded him in death in 2012. Thorkil was always interested in how things worked. As a young man, he sought adventure as an Officer’s cabin boy on a merchant marine vessel, sailing with ØK to the Far East. He later studied to become a mechanical engineer at Odense Techical College and, after working in Aarhus for a few years, answered a newspaper ad for a job in the United States. Thorkil was intrigued by big band jazz music, innovative designs and new materials he had encountered after the war that were ‘made in the USA’.
He sought out fellow Danes once in Chicago, through which he soon met and then married his beloved Norwegian wife, Ingrid, in 1959. After ten years at Automatic Electric as a telephony engineer, instead of transferring with the company to Tennessee, Thorkil joined Ingrid to support her growing Physical Therapy practice, handling office administration and operations. He was responsible for the acquisition and operation of the latest technology used in their clinic; assisting in every way from doing the laundry to designing and patenting hot-pack covers, to transporting patients to and from appointments and explaining and administering electric muscle stimulation. Together, they helped hundreds of patients in over forty years of private practice in Countryside.
Thorkil was a devoted father who was actively involved in raising his three daughters. After years of driving them to school, friends‘ and extra-curricular activities, he taught them how to drive “like a man”, to always ‘be practical’ and to help out around the house and around the business: filling in in the office or assisting in the clinic on the occasion when he was away. He supported his daughters’ education and travels generously.
Thorkil was also an active member of Chicagoland’s Danish and broader Scandinavian community: the Danish Junior League, the Danish-American Athletic Club, Danish Brotherhood Lodge #17, Danish Old Settlers, Sons of Norway, Bjornson Male Chorus and Torskeklubben. President of Dania Society for 10 years, and that of the Danish National Committee for several more, Thorkil’s legacy as a proud Dane in America now lives on in his children who speak Danish and maintain close ties with friends and family abroad; and his grandchildren, the eldest of which (Sebastian) is currently studying in Denmark for a year. Thorkil is survived by his three daughters, and four grandchildren – Sebastian (’00), Anna Sophia (‘02), Espen (’03) and Zephyr (‘07).
He will be remembered for his love of Scandinavian history, his radios, his cars, his silly sense of humor, unconventional wisdom, critical thinking, and most of all for his helpful and loving ways.
A memorial service will be held October 28th at 2pm at THE DANISH HOME, 5656 N. Newcastle Ave, Chicago, IL 60631 (tel. 773.775.7383). In lieu of flowers, donations are most welcome to The Danish Home of Chicago via their website (www.danishhomeofchicago.org).
Arrangements entrusted to Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513. For information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com
Thorkil was born in Aarhus, Denmark, to Clara and Boye Winther, and had an elder sister, Inge, who preceded him in death in 2012. Thorkil was always interested in how things worked. As a young man, he sought adventure as an Officer’s cabin boy on a merchant marine vessel, sailing with ØK to the Far East. He later studied to become a mechanical engineer at Odense Techical College and, after working in Aarhus for a few years, answered a newspaper ad for a job in the United States. Thorkil was intrigued by big band jazz music, innovative designs and new materials he had encountered after the war that were ‘made in the USA’.
He sought out fellow Danes once in Chicago, through which he soon met and then married his beloved Norwegian wife, Ingrid, in 1959. After ten years at Automatic Electric as a telephony engineer, instead of transferring with the company to Tennessee, Thorkil joined Ingrid to support her growing Physical Therapy practice, handling office administration and operations. He was responsible for the acquisition and operation of the latest technology used in their clinic; assisting in every way from doing the laundry to designing and patenting hot-pack covers, to transporting patients to and from appointments and explaining and administering electric muscle stimulation. Together, they helped hundreds of patients in over forty years of private practice in Countryside.
Thorkil was a devoted father who was actively involved in raising his three daughters. After years of driving them to school, friends‘ and extra-curricular activities, he taught them how to drive “like a man”, to always ‘be practical’ and to help out around the house and around the business: filling in in the office or assisting in the clinic on the occasion when he was away. He supported his daughters’ education and travels generously.
Thorkil was also an active member of Chicagoland’s Danish and broader Scandinavian community: the Danish Junior League, the Danish-American Athletic Club, Danish Brotherhood Lodge #17, Danish Old Settlers, Sons of Norway, Bjornson Male Chorus and Torskeklubben. President of Dania Society for 10 years, and that of the Danish National Committee for several more, Thorkil’s legacy as a proud Dane in America now lives on in his children who speak Danish and maintain close ties with friends and family abroad; and his grandchildren, the eldest of which (Sebastian) is currently studying in Denmark for a year. Thorkil is survived by his three daughters, and four grandchildren – Sebastian (’00), Anna Sophia (‘02), Espen (’03) and Zephyr (‘07).
He will be remembered for his love of Scandinavian history, his radios, his cars, his silly sense of humor, unconventional wisdom, critical thinking, and most of all for his helpful and loving ways.
A memorial service will be held October 28th at 2pm at THE DANISH HOME, 5656 N. Newcastle Ave, Chicago, IL 60631 (tel. 773.775.7383). In lieu of flowers, donations are most welcome to The Danish Home of Chicago via their website (www.danishhomeofchicago.org).
Arrangements entrusted to Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 West 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513. For information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com