John “Jack” Colin Winans , age 92, of Ann Arbor, MI, passed away on January 12, 2022 at Atria Park in Ann Arbor. He had recently moved to their memory care unit two weeks prior, but after a fall and short stay in hospital, returned to the facility having contracted Covid. At 92, he had multiple health issues that, compounded with Covid infection, he was unable to overcome. He passed peacefully with his daughter at his side.
Jack was born in 1929 and was raised in Chelsea, Michigan, the youngest of eight children and the last surviving sibling. He was the “surprise” child to his older parents, and in his words was “practically an only child” as most of his siblings were significantly older. Jack was forever impacted by the unexpected passing of his older brother, Duane, when he was 25 and Jack just 11. He admired his three brothers who served in the armed forces, Dave, Charlie, and George, and supported Veteran’s charities throughout his adult life. Prior to enrollment at the University of Michigan where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, he worked at the family jewelry store, Winans Jewelry, a Chelsea institution. Aside from a (very) short residence in California, Jack lived in Chelsea or Ann Arbor his entire life.
Jack entered the professional world as an art teacher in the Ann Arbor Public School system at Tappan Junior High in the 1950’s and taught for 20 years before changing careers. He met his wife, Friedelle (Schreier), during his employ. They were married in the fall of 1962. According to one of his favorite students who later became a colleague and grew to become a longtime friend, “Mr. Winans was famous. His classes were always filled — with all kinds of students and they sought out his classes. He was smart, funny, compassionate, interesting, he loved art, and understood kids. He knew what made Junior High students tick — their interests, their worries, their hopes and dreams, their fears. If you walked past his room after the bell ending each period on Fridays, you saw the same scene every time: Mr. Winans would be standing in his doorway as the kids left, shaking hands with each one. Plus, he had something important to say to every student. “Fine sketch-book this week, Rose!.” Or, “Great pen and ink job this week, James!” Or even, “See you on Monday, Frank; help your mom with dinner this Sunday!” He had a brief stint as the Ann Arbor School District’s Art-Curriculum Coordinator. However, never one to enjoy bureaucracies or the administrative duties that came along with them, he soon resumed his regular teaching schedule in order to return to what he loved.
Jack’s retirement from the classroom came in the early 1970s, when he and Friedelle had an opportunity to buy a long-standing retail business in Chelsea: Vogel’s, and later, Foster’s. They ran the store together, Jack managing the men’s and Friedelle, the women’s. Their commitment to the store, their employees and the community at large was felt by Chelsea residents. Jack was passionate about and involved in efforts to improve the downtown area and bring new and viable businesses to the area. Upon retirement in 1993, Jack and Friedelle planned, built, and lived in their dream home on the west side of Ann Arbor.
Jack’s teacher callings led him to a long tenure of Julys and Augusts working at various overnight summer camps in the decades leading up to the birth of his daughter and purchase of the retail business. He initially worked at camps in northern Michigan but later, and for many years, at Adirondack Woodcraft Camps for Boys, a camp amid the forests, rivers, and lakes of the Adirondack Mountains near Old Forge, NY. The camp, founded in 1925, enrolled upwards of 200 kids, ranging in age from seven to eighteen, divided among five age groups, each “camp” with a unique eight-week curriculum — sports, woodcrafts, canoeing, swimming, hiking, fishing, all age-related. Jack began as one of Woodcraft’s cabin counselors, but was promoted to one of two permanent Head Counselors, then one of Woodcraft’s Division Heads, and ultimately one of two Woodcraft Assistant Directors. As Head Counselor, he frequently served as advisor and friend to Woodcraft’s staffers. His knowledge of young people extended well beyond the camp’s counselors — many were college students, far from home. More than a few sought Jack’s guidance, and he was a wise mentor to those who were homesick or needed help in disciplining a difficult camper. Jack’s talent with a camera led to his appointment as each summer’s photographer of record, and he produced a Camp Yearbook every year.
Jack was a lover of books, architecture, his beloved cats, the Ann Arbor Art Fair, Michigan football, and liberal politics. He was a bright, witty, opinionated, sarcastic, cantankerous man who was beloved by those who befriended him. He was highly sensitive but hated talking about his feelings. His propensity to curse was developed at a young age and stayed strong until the end. He was utterly endearing yet could be absolutely infuriating (primarily to his wife and daughter) in his rigidity about religion, politics, views on the public school system and utter indifference for what he was having for dinner. He was an “organized collector” with a particular passion for JFK’s assassination, the Civil War, NC Wyeth, newspaper clippings on topics that interested him, good sturdy boxes and VHS tapes. Endless VHS tapes. He was an avid gardener into his late 80’s, until his health and mind began to betray him. He maintained ties and records to many of his former students and campers throughout the years. He was a particularly skilled, if not perfectionistic, writer and was dedicated to his yearly holiday cards. Many friends reached out this past New Year to inquire as to his well being as this was the first year in many that he didn’t send a letter to his extensive and wide-reaching network. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, but as Jack would say, “onwards and upwards.”
Jack is survived by his wife, Friedelle (Schreier), their daughter, Annie (Marton) Markovits, and his only grandson, Lucas Markovits, of Philadelphia as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
In recent years, Jack had become a supporter of a summer camp for special needs and medically fragile children in Michigan. Memorial gifts can be made in his name to: North Star Reach, 674 S Wagner Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.
A memorial celebration of his life will be held in early summer in Ann Arbor. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.
