About Us

Stan Ray (February 13, 1939 - September 10, 2006) Stan was a licensed funeral director for over 40 years, serving families in Colorado, Iowa and South Dakota. In 1977, Stan and Judy purchased the Schenk Funeral Home and operated the business as Ray Funeral Chapel. For them it was an opportunity to "come home". He was a native of Mission Hill, and Judy grew up in Yankton. They both graduated from Yankton High School, and Judy graduated from Yankton College with a degree in Medical Technology. They came back to their hometown because they felt their daughters would benefit from this small, friendly community that was rich with community pride and traditions. Their family now includes daughters Dona and Robin Reed of Pierce, Nebraska, Kris and John DeJean of Yankton, Sandi and Scott Lyons of Castle Rock, Colorado and Vicki and Steve Johnson of Irene, South Dakota and 8 grandchildren. The girls all graduated from Yankton High School and are now pursuing their own careers. Stan and Judy have become involved in a variety of church and community activities. They are members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Yankton. Stan was a member of the Yankton Elks Lodge #994, St. John's Masonic Lodge #208 A.F.& A.M., Yankton Consistory, El Raid Shrine Temple of Sioux Falls and Lewis & Clark Shrine Club of Yankton, Yankton Antique Auto Association, Yankton Kiwanis Club and I.O.O.F. Judy's activities include Keystone Chapter #33-Order of the Eastern Star, Fountain Lodge #12 of the Rebekahs, Yankton Federated Women's Club, and the Board of Directors of the Yankton Historical Society.

Jim Wintz I was born in 1951 and grew up in Hartington. My parents are Richard and Katherine Wintz. I attended Holy Trinity Grade School and graduated from Cedar Catholic High School in 1969. I attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska for three years and then transferred to the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mortuary Science. I served my apprenticeship at the Crosby, Kunold, Burkett Funeral Home in Omaha. On September 7, 1974 I married Carla Bruening. She graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1975 with a degree in Physical Therapy. We moved to Hartington in July 1975 where I joined my father as a funeral director at the Wintz Funeral Home. Carla began working as a Physical Therapist at Sacred Heart Hospital and worked full time until our second child was born in 1979. She continued working part time for several years and then began doing consultant work at various nursing homes. Our greatest joy and blessing in life is our family. We have been blessed with six children, Paul, Keith, Steve, Marie, Janeen and Kevin, and five grandchildren, Joshua, Brooklynn, Isabelle, Madeline, and Jackson. We are members of Hillcrest Country Club and the Hartington Golf Course. I am a member of and active in numerous church, school and civic organizations. We are members of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hartington.

Jerry Wintz I was born in 1960 to Richard and Katherine Wintz. I graduated from Hartington Cedar Catholic High School in 1979. I attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for two years before attending Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. I graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in the fall of 1983 with a degree in Mortuary Science. I then moved to Omaha, Nebraska in 1983 where I served my apprenticeship and worked with the John A. Gentleman Mortuary from 1983 to 1985. In the fall of 1985, I moved home to Hartington and joined my brother Jim Wintz at the Wintz Funeral Home. The Wintz Funeral Home began when my father moved to Hartington in 1947. I married Kristi A. Arens on September 26, 1987. We have five children, Paige, Jason, Ross, Lauren and Carissa. Prior to raising our family, Kristi worked for Hair by Stewarts in Yankton. Kristi and I are members of the Hartington Golf Course, and Elks Club in Yankton. I am the coordinator for the Hartington Little League Basketball program and the Soccer program. I am also a member of and active in several school, church and civic organizations. We are members of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hartington.

Paul Wintz I am originally from Hartington, Nebraska and am the oldest son of Jim and Carla Wintz. The funeral business has always been a part of my life and I was able to see the value and importance of our business. I was able to see how much my dad and my uncle, Jerry helped people during such a difficult time. I wanted to do the same thing for people and that's why I decided to become a funeral director. After graduating from Cedar Catholic High School, I went off to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for three years. I attended Mortuary School at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis graduating with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mortuary Science in the spring of 2001. I then served my apprenticeship at Heafey, Heafey, Hoffmann, Dworak, Cutler Funeral Home in Omaha. In August of 2002, I married Holly Schroeder. After the wedding, we moved to Yankton and were looking forward to becoming active members of the community. We belong to St. Benedict's Catholic Church, the Catholic Aid Association and Hillcrest Country Club. I am also involved in the Yankton Morning Optimist Club Knights of Columbus, the Yankton Chamber of Commerce, and the Yankton Elks Lodge #994. Holly is a Radiologic Technologist at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. We enjoy living in Yankton and love raising our family here.

Steve Wintz I am the son of Jim and Carla Wintz. Since the third grade I always knew I wanted to be a funeral director and never thought of being anything else. I wanted to make sure that our family would always be around to help people when they need it most. I grew up in Hartington, NE and graduated from Cedar Catholic High School. I attended Wayne State College for two years, then Kansas City Kansas Community College where I graduated with an Associates Degree in Mortuary Science. I then served my apprenticeship at Heafey, Heafey, Hoffmann, Dworak, and Cutler Funeral Home in Omaha and continued to work for them as a licensed funeral director until moving to Yankton in April of 2004. I married Katie Griess on August 4, 2001. We have been blessed with three wonderful children, Joshua, Brooklynn, and Jackson. Katie currently is an Office Assistant at Slowey Construction in Yankton. We are members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Catholic Aid Association, and Hillcrest Country Club. I am also a member of the Yankton Elks Lodge #994, Knights of Columbus, Rotary International, and the Yankton Chamber of Commerce.