Katherine Winger passed away peacefully at the age of 98 on November 20th, 2024, in Middletown, Connecticut, surrounded by her family.  Midge, as she was affectionately known, was an accomplished early childhood educator, musician, and direct stone carver.  Known for her sparkle and whimsy as well as her love of history, travel, and progressive causes, Midge brought joy to the many people lucky enough to share a chapter of their journey with her.

Katherine Winger was born in 1926 in Wisconsin, to Reverend Paul Emmanuel and Katherine "Minnie" Winger.  She was the second of four children.  She and her siblings, Mary, Paul, and Daniel, grew up in Niles Center, Illinois (now Skokie).  She went to Heidelberg University, her sister's alma mater, in Tiffin, Ohio, where she studied sociology.  During the summers, she waitressed on the S.S. North American sailing between Chicago and Buffalo.  At Heidelberg, she met Robert "Bob" Lingswiler, who would be her husband of 31 years. Following her graduation in 1947, they were married in 1948.  Midge and Bob moved to Denver, Colorado in 1949, where she enrolled at the University of Denver to study education and received her teaching certificate.  She began teaching elementary school in 1950 in the public school system.

In 1953, Midge and Bob moved to New York, where she taught elementary school in Mt. Vernon and enrolled at Columbia University.  She then taught in Elmont on Long Island and lived in Valley Stream and later in Brooklyn.  After receiving a Master's degree from Columbia in 1955, they moved to Northampton, Pennsylvania, where her children were born – Robert in 1957 and Victoria in 1958.  She was a homemaker, studied piano and organ, and served as the minister's wife of the United Church of Christ.  In 1962, the family moved back to Denver, where she taught second grade for one year, and later to Rapid City, South Dakota, where she lived for three years.

In 1966, Midge and her family moved to Berea, Ohio, where she would stay for 33 years.  She focused on the study of music performance and music theory at Baldwin-Wallace University.  She took a position teaching in the North Olmsted public schools in 1968, specializing in kindergarten education until she retired in 1994.  She was a devoted mother to her two children, parakeet Peppi, adopted kittens Magdalena and Desdemona, and her bearded collies, Benji and Kip. Gardening was a favorite summer pastime. She became an adoring grandmother of Alexander in 1990 and Julia in 1993.

In 2000, Midge moved to Marco Island, Florida, where she spent what she described as the best years of her life.  She took numerous art classes and ultimately found her passion as a direct stone carving enthusiast.  She enjoyed her siblings' annual winter visits to her home on Marco Island, traveling throughout the US and Canada in a motor coach with them, international travel, as well as visits from her family, with whom she shared favorite pastimes, dining adventures, and joyous laughter.  She relocated to Connecticut in 2019 to be closer to family.

Midge was known for her effervescent personality and irrepressible spirit.   She loved life to the fullest.  She is survived by her loving family who will cherish her memory: son Robert Lingswiler and wife Carla Fearer, daughter Victoria Lingswiler and husband Marc Hillbrand; grandchildren Alexander and Julia Hillbrand; and two great grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Mary Kime, Paul Winger and Daniel Winger, as well as many dear nieces and nephews and wonderful friends. Midge will forever be in our hearts.