My father-in-law Amos Oneil Winsand, age 100, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on February 17, 2024. He was born in Independence, WI on October 15, 1923.
Amos was the epitome of the American Dream. He grew up on a dairy farm in Northwest Wisconsin with no electricity or indoor plumbing. He was scheduled to be Valedictorian of his high school class but was unable to accept the award due to joining the Marines for WWII. While in the Marines he spearheaded a top-secret program called DODAR, a land-based sound technology used to identify hidden enemy artillery locations. The culmination of his WWII service brought him to the Battle of Iwo Jima where the new sound technology was successfully implemented. Following the war, courtesy of the GI Bill, he attended the University of Colorado, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and met his wife Marilyn, a visiting student from Michigan State University.
Amos began his career at Kirkhof in Grand Rapids, MI. While in Grand Rapids, Amos and Marilyn started their family with the birth of three children. Then they moved to Birmingham, MI where Amos became a Managing Partner at Dollar Electric, an automated welding machine designer and builder for automobile companies and other industries. During that time, Dollar expanded with the purchase of X-mation Tool, another automated welding house. While in Birmingham, they had two more children.
As a team, Amos and Marilyn volunteered significant time and efforts to the American Welding Society (AWS) beginning in 1961. Their efforts focused on the Detroit Section and later at the National level. They had a special focus on promoting educational opportunities to advance America’s leadership in the science, technology, and application of welding worldwide. To that end, they established the Amos and Marilyn Winsand Endowed Scholarship Fund. In 2016, Amos was inducted into the Welding Engineering Hall of Fame at Ferris State University.
Amos and Marilyn traveled the world and experienced the culture of more than 80 countries. They were especially fond of cruise ships for most of their international travels. While raising their children, summers were spent tent camping across America from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Later in life, the whole family would gather each summer at cabins in Northern Michigan. Family was a core value for Amos and Marilyn.
His lifelong Christian faith started early during his Norwegian childhood in Wisconsin. His family would ride a horse and buggy a couple miles to church. His faith then carried him through WWII. In the early 1960’s they joined Lutheran Church of the Master (LCM) before the church building was even erected. The next six decades were spent volunteering in various roles at the church. After moving to Williamston, Amos still attended LCM via a livestream every Sunday.
Amos was preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years (Marilyn), parents (Oscar and Anna), brothers (Orville and Olin) and great grandson (Capen). Amos is survived by his sister Marjorie; five children - Mary Ellyn (Dave), Bill (Carol), Amy (Don), Bob, and Nancy (Guy); eleven grandchildren - Jill, Erik (Cara), Madison (Calvin), Krista, Landry (Patrick), Alyssa (Luke), Bronte (Dillon), Max (Grace), Margeaux, Alex, and Chloe; eight great grandchildren - Jordyn, Piper, Myles, Theo, Leo, Owen, Lauryn, and Casey; and many nieces and nephews. His guidance, words of wisdom, and zest for life will be greatly missed by family and friends.
A celebration of life memorial service was held at Lutheran Church of the Master in Troy, MI on Thursday April 18th. Below are two videos from the service.
