Winifred Violet Mary Breitzmann

Winifred Violet Mary (Powney) Breitzmann, age 90, died Monday, February 11 ^th 2019 at Solvay Hospice House with her devoted daughters by her side. Winnie was born on February 6, 1929, to Thomas and Violet Powney in the small coal mining village of Cymmer, Wales.

Her father was a coal miner and Winnie often told the story of why the family decided to move to Oxford. Her mother (Nana Powney) said that a white dove had appeared at their window and took that as a sign that they should leave Cymmer where her husband and sons’ only livelihood would be working in the coal mines. The family moved to Oxford England where her father found work as a stone mason and her mother as a cook. Winnie was just 10 years old when WWII broke out and she spoke of riding bikes at night with no headlamps, air raid sirens, planes flying overhead, blackout curtains, food rations, and being herded into shelters and not knowing where her parents were. Her family survived those years and Winnie completed her required schooling at age 14. She went on to work as a shop girl in a department store and then as an apprentice in a beauty salon. One of the highlights of her life was taking the train to London to see Frank Sinatra when she was 16. She loved dancing the jitterbug at weekly dances and had dreams of becoming a dancer. When she was 19, she took her first trip alone across the Atlantic to New York to help with her sister’s newborn. She stayed a year but grew homesick and returned to Oxford. It was there that she returned to the weekly dances where she met and eventually married Herbert Breitzmann Jr. They lived 2 years in England and then returned to the states, leaving Army life to settle in Superior WI. There they raised two daughters and Winnie went to work at a local drycleaner and laundry where she worked until she retired in 1991. She got her driver’s license when she was 66, thanks to Aunt Sandy teaching her to drive and Uncle Roger knowing the examiner at the DMV. Seeing her behind the wheel was something we will never forget. She gave up driving at age 80 when she moved to town and was thrilled to finally be a city slicker again.

She enjoyed attending the ballet, music, especially Frank Sinatra and fellow Welshman, Tom Jones, camping, reading, sewing and knitting. She loved animals and allowed an array of dogs, cats, a rabbit, chickens, hamsters, turtles and even frogs in the house. She was an excellent cook and loved Dove chocolates. She was a wonderful friend. She was beautiful inside and out, always happy, kind and true

Winnie was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Breitzmann Jr, her special friend Neil Russom, her parents, brothers Geoffrey and Donald, sister Barbara, and son-in-law Bob Schoneberger and her cat Princess. She is survived by her loving daughters, Sandra D. and Terri of Superior, WI, grandson Erik Schoneberger (Hannah Schoechert) of Esko, sister Peggy Manuell (Ted) of Oxford, England, special niece, Wendy Jones (Trevor), Oxford, England; numerous nieces and nephews in the UK and the U.S., grand dogs Klancy and Evie, and grand cats Beni, ZZ, Gracee, and Marley.

We would like to thank the nursing staff at Solvay Hospice House for their compassionate and loving care of “Miss Winnie.”

A Celebration of Life will begin at 5:00 PM on Monday, February 18, 2019 at the Barker’s Island Inn & Convention Center, 300 Marina Drive, Superior, with a service to be held at 6:00 PM, with Pastor Bridget Jones officiating, and a meal will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Solvay Hospice House, c/o Miller Dwan Foundation, 502 E. 2 ^nd Street, Duluth, MN 55805.

The Downs-LeSage Funeral Home, 1304 Hammond Avenue, Superior, is assisting the family with arrangements. To leave a condolence or sign the guestbook, please visit our website at www.downs-lesage.com .