John Winters 1949-2023

John William “Butch” Winters, 73, Topeka, died Tuesday, July 4, 2023.

He was born Aug. 7, 1949, in Holton, the son of John and Ada Marie Boyce Winters. He graduated from Holton High School in 1967 and later attended Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson to receive his certification as a Kansas law enforcement officer.

Mr. Winters worked for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and Holton Police Department, and served as Holton’s chief of police. Most recently he was a Correctional Officer II for Topeka Correctional Facility before retiring.

He married Mary Pat Askren. They later divorced. He married Laura Goodwin on Feb. 12, 1993, in Topeka. She survives.

Other survivors include a daughter, Susan Rollins and husband Jeremy, Holton; two stepdaughters, Christine Bayless and husband Jimmy, Topeka, and Nikki Fager and husband Joel, Alma; a brother, James Winters, Soldier; three grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; and five stepgreat-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ada Marie; and two sisters, Denise Streit and Karla Grau.

A celebration of life service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 11 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton, where visitation will follow until 7:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cotton O’Neil Cancer Center, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.