Winifred "Winny" Carlson Quiner

Winifred “Winny” Carlson Quiner departed this life for the next on November 26, 2022.  How can one begin to describe her beautiful life of quiet faith in Jesus Christ?  She was a rock of gentle strength for her husband, her children, their children, and the many people she knew and loved during her nearly 95 blessed years.

The youngest daughter of Carl John Carlson and Maggie Rebecca (Johnson) Carlson, Winny Colleen was born in 1927 in Des Moines, Iowa.  She loved growing up in the country and spoke fondly of adventures with her dear friend Betty McConkey.  She became an accomplished young woman despite the heartbreak of losing her beloved father in a house fire when she was 13 and the death of her brother Jim, who was killed in action in Saint-Lô, France, when the Allies stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944.  Winny graduated valedictorian of her 1945 East High School class and was elected homecoming queen.  Committed to following Jesus, after graduation she served as a soloist for the huge Youth for Christ Rallies and worked in YFC’s Des Moines offices.  One fateful day a young man named David Bernard Quiner walked in to return a borrowed film.  Little did he know he would meet Winny—an encounter that would change both of their lives forever.  They were married November 18, 1950, and became partners in life and ministry for the next 53 years until Pastor Dave went to be with the Lord November 3, 2003.  Their adventures together in farming, ranching, and eventually full-time Christian ministry took them to Iowa, Arizona, Wyoming, and Texas.

Possessing and modeling the heart of a humble servant, Winny served the church tirelessly as organist, pianist, choir member, soloist, organizer, cook, and teacher.  A pastor’s wife for 23 years at El Paso Bible Church, her hospitality was legendary, especially when she hosted the annual Christmas Chili Dinner offering multiple stews sporting a range of Scoville units to satisfy every palate.  In her golden years Winny moved to Colorado where she lived first with her daughter Colleen in Boulder, then in her home in Loveland, and finally with her daughter Rebecca in Peyton.  She continued to play the piano for her church into her 90s and only missed a prayer meeting when she couldn’t get a ride.

Winny was the last of her five siblings—all believers in Christ—to gather on the other shore.  She is survived by 6 children—Colleen (Steve) Johnson, Rebecca (George) Johnson, D. Mark Quiner, Paul Quiner, Quentin Quiner, and Barry (Krista) Quiner—her honorary daughter Ann Johannessen, 23 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.

Small and frail to behold in her later years, Winny was a giant in heaven’s eyes.  A mighty prayer warrior her whole life, she never gave up.  Her Bible was always filled with missionaries’ letters, pictures of people, church bulletins, and prayer requests handwritten in a cryptic shorthand no one else could read.  When others would lose sight of the power of prayer and remark, “All we can do is pray,” she would quip, “Has it come to that?”

A memorial service to commemorate the long and blessed life of this dear woman of God is scheduled for February 24 in the Chapel of Remembrance at the Sunset Funeral Home West, 480 N. Resler, El Paso, Tex.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 with the service at 11:00.  Burial will follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery.

Mom, you modeled Christ for us.  Many of us owe our faith in Him in large part to your raising us “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).  We are profoundly and eternally grateful.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!’ ” –Matthew 25:21