Obituary

Arthur “Noel” DeWinter of Irvine, CA, joyful father and grandfather, died peacefully on January 26, 2020 at the age of 80 following a brief illness.

He leaves behind three children including his daughter Amy DeWinter, daughter Jill DeWinter and her husband Michael Shea, and son Michael Noel DeWinter; grandchildren Dylan Shea, Hudson Shea, Noah Zajkowski and Bennett Zajkowski; and his brother Benjamin DeWinter.

Noel DeWinter grew up in the Detroit, Michigan area. He attended Carleton College in Northfield Minnesota where he studied economics. He was admitted to University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business as a candidate for a Master’s in Business Administration, but deferred his enrolment to serve as an officer in the United States Marine Corp. He left the Marine Corp as First Lieutenant and then pursued his MBA at Wharton. With his advanced degree he began working in finance in a variety of roles covering planning, analysis, investor relations and executive leadership. Noel loved his work and was still actively consulting for clients when he passed away. Noel was known for his keen intellect and calm, steady demeanor, leading multiple companies to successful growth.

Noel had a wide variety of interests. While in college he co-authored a book on pyrotechnics and had an article published in Science Digest. Noel loved painting, modeling the likes of Rothko. In his youth, he was a skilled jazz drummer and loved listening to big band orchestrations throughout his life, whistling along. He collected stamps for much of his life and was fascinated by history, often reaching out to the Chamber of Commerce of his parents’ home towns in Iowa for family historical details. His most proud accomplishments, however, were his kids and grandchildren.He adored his family and will be remembered for his kindness, playfulness and generosity.

One friend of Noel’s said, “sitting in a tavern with Noel was an uproarious adventure”. Another noted that “the mold was broken with Noel DeWinter.” Noel was a charming, humorous spirit who loved to make those around him laugh. He leaves behind a legacy of professional success and personal accomplishment, and many heavy hearts in remembrance.

Noel was always very passionate about the value of education. The family asks that expressions of sympathy be made as donations in his name to his alma mater, Carleton College.

Carleton College
Gift Accounting
4-CENREC
1 N College St
Northfield, MN 55057
www.carleton.edu

The family will be holding a private service at a later date.

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17 responses to Arthur “Noel” DeWinter

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Terry Ennis says:

February 5, 2020

He will be missed… I’ll miss seeing him at the mailbox and him cracking some joke. I also sit on board of our association with Noel, he was a great asset and will truly be missed. Rest In Peace Noel, you will be greatly missed.

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Julie (Pennsy) Taylor-Drennan says:

February 6, 2020

I will always remember Noel as a kind, funny and energetic Dad….who loved his family very much!

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Daniel Barr says:

February 9, 2020

High School Days
Noel and I met at Roosevelt Grade School and I think his family were also members of Drayton Avenue Church.
Noel’s birthday was April 1, which is appropriate for all the “goofy” things we did in High School.

During a rainy day at Interlochen Music Camp (where the Band Director had taken our school band prior to school starting) I found a big grand piano sitting next to the main stage and was “doodling” around on it. Dave Wolters heard me and soon joined in with his trumpet and this was the beginning of our band named the 5 D’s (Dan Barr, Dave Wolter, Dave Albee, Phil Davis and Noel DeWinter.

However, Noel’s drum set lacked a big “ride cymbal” (approximately 2 feet in diameter). Since the High School Band had one, by a process I will never reveal, we “borrowed” the cymbal Friday afternoons from the locked band room and replaced it Monday mornings. (I’m sure the band director knew, but looked the other way. Eventually we made enough money for Noel to buy his own cymbal.

A local Kiwanis member heard us play and suggested we enter the Michigan Kiwanis Talent Contest. We did and won 1st place. That entitled us to go to Washington, D.C. where we won the National Talent Contest. A trophy for this was in the Ferndale High School Trophy Case for many years. My folks let us borrow their 1955 Chevy 2-door station wagon to drive to Washington D.C. and back. (What were they thinking??)

Noel and Phil Davis were our 2 man percussion section and always “stole the show” at High School Band and Orchestra concerts. Everyone wondered how 2 people could play all the parts that really needed 4-5 people (they loved it).

After High School I would occasionally stop in to chat with his parents to see how Noel was doing. Somehow Noel, who I think never played hockey, became the goal tender for the Carleton College, Minnesota, Hockey team! I lost touch with Noel over the years but had a nice long talk with him at our 50th class reunion.

It appears he had a great family and I’m sure he will be greatly missed.

Daniel Barr, M.D.

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1. Amy DeWinter says:
  
  February 11, 2020
  
  Dear Daniel-
  
  Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story. My dad recently told me about the Kiwanis club and the 1st place win in Washington D.C. I previously did not know about those adventures of his, and was not aware of his participation in hockey at Carleton! He was a kind and generous soul, always eager to make those around him laugh. You are right that he will be deeply missed.
  
  Best wishes,
  Amy (Noel’s oldest daughter, Raleigh, NC)
  
  Reply
Doug Sturgess says:

February 25, 2020

Whoever said they broke the mold with Noel was right. Most of my interactions with him were in the Board meetings of our homeowner’s association. Noel is one of the few people in the world that could make such meetings tolerable. When things were getting especially tedious, out of nowhere he would crack one of his silly jokes. It won’t be the same without him.

RIP Noel,

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David McKerchet says:

March 24, 2020

I was Noel’s roommate senior year at Carleton . All the above accolades and descriptions ring true. Yes he played goalie on the hockey team. We called him Twitch because of his lightening reflexes. Whenever he got near a set of snares standby for some great and energetic action. He was great fun. Never a dull moment around Noel. April 1st is coming. We’ll all remember RIP good friend.

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