Charlene ReNae Winzler

Charlene ReNae Winzler, 59, passed away surrounded by family at her home in Moses Lake Jan. 25, 2024, ending her battle with ALS, also known as Lou Guerighs Disease. 

Char was born March 26, 1964, in Brigham City, Utah, to Chet and Ruby (Foster) Warner. She was one of five children born into this military family and they moved multiple times before settling back in Brigham City. It was in Brigham City that she had two children, Les and Tessa.

In 1990 Char made Moses Lake her home. There was a period when she was a single mother working at Dairy Queen and Super 1 Foods, sleeping in the living room of their two-bedroom apartment to make sure her children each had a room. Her children were always her top priority. She did everything she could to make sure they were able to have active and happy childhoods. 

It was through her son Les playing baseball with Allen and Ryan Winzler in 1994 that she met her true love, her “mister”, Samuel Winzler. Char and Sam married on April 19, 1998. 

Char did not believe in half or step-siblings. She believed in family, and she made sure all the children knew they were loved equally. As children do, each one of her children tested the boundaries of a mother’s love. The Winzler family rule is “that you gotta love them anyway.” There was never a doubt in any of her children’s minds that she did, in fact, love them anyway.

In 1997 Char took a position at Winzler Vehicle Licensing. She had an aptitude for the job. She joined the Washington Association of Vehicle Subagents and worked her way to president of the association. She built relationships with legislators, testified at the state capital, and worked in partnership with The Department of Licensing. Char was greatly respected by other subagents and small business owners. She helped bring much-needed change and stability to small businesses in Washington.

At the office Char was not only known as the person to see when customers had a complicated problem, but she became a pillar of strength for everyone she worked with. She was a leader, strong businesswoman, best friend, confidant, and a second mom to many. Although this is where many know her from, she was much more than the lady working at the licensing office.

Char had many passions and hobbies. She loved sports cars, motorcycles, flowers, musicals, playing the piano and adventures in her travel trailer. She was a certified scuba diver. She had a regular Wednesday night dinner with friends and met up with her sister, Linda, and friends from far away as often as possible.

She believed a great hairdresser and red toenails were a must in life. She had both.

She is survived by her husband, Sam, her children; Allen (Laura) Winzler, Les (Emily) Tuck, Ryan Winzler, and Tessa Winzler (Richard Simpson), grandchildren; Alexis, Ivy, Justin, Jyllian, Kristen, Mallory, Makayla, Mia, and Liam, her mother, all her siblings, nieces, nephews, and countless friends she considered family.

A celebration of Char’s life will be held at 4 p.m. March 30, at the Best Western Plus Lake Front Hotel. This is the day her family would have celebrated her 60th birthday.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to: The Steve Gleason Institute for Neuroscience. https://gleason.wsu.edu/.