Harold "Harry" John Winch

Harold John Winch of Hilton Head Island, SC passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 30, 2025. Harry was born on December 8, 1930, in Greenwich, CT, to Harold Otto and Margaret (Tracy) Winch. On April 25, 1959, he married his beloved wife Nancy Herkenhoff. He is survived by his three children, Heather of Beaufort, SC, John (Jane) of Kettering, OH and David (Julie) of Oakwood, OH, as well as his six grandchildren: Claire (Hunter) Benedict, Amanda, Molly, John T., Caroline and Carter. He was preceded in death by his wife Nancy, his parents and his sister, Margaret.

He graduated from Rye High School in NY and spent two years in the United States Marine Corps. After attending Iona College, Harry started his career for the Gilbane Building Company where he was involved in the construction of JFK airport in New York, GE Appliance Park in Louisville and the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan. Shortly thereafter, Harry joined The Minster Machine Company, where he held numerous operational positions over his 45 plus year career until his retirement as Chairman in 2006. He was responsible for building the Minster-Metal Casting Facility in the early 1970s and designed and constructed the Minster Automation Plant in Beaufort, SC in the late 1970s.

Harry served on the regional boards of both Winter’s National Bank and Bank One in Dayton, Ohio. He also was a great supporter of The Hipple Cancer Research Center in Dayton, Ohio and served on the board and as Chairman of The Association of Manufacturing Technology (AMT), a national association for the machine tool industry.

After Harry’s retirement, he and Nancy spent many great years at their home in Hilton Head Island, SC. He enjoyed boating, weekly golf with friends and his daily lunch at Reilly’s. He took great pleasure in spending time with family and many of his closest friends each summer at Clear Lake, IN. Harry also enjoyed spending time at his family farm in St. Marys, OH where he had a vision to create a very unique company guest and entertainment space for hosting thousands of Minster customers over the last 45 years. Harry made friends everywhere he went both at his local spots and across the globe. His sense of humor left a lasting impression and a smile with everyone who crossed his path. He was known for his witty pranks, preference for dessert on all occasions, clever comebacks, and love of Willie Nelson & ABBA to name a few. An avid golfer, in spite of a totally unconventional swing, Harry carded his last hole-in-one at the age of 84.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 6th at 9:30 a.m. at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Minster, OH. Burial will follow at St. Augustine Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Volunteers in Medicine, 15 Northridge Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 or the Minster Area Life Squad, PO Box 60, 61 South Jefferson Street, Minster, OH 45865.