Kerry Van Winkle

Kerry Mark Van Winkle, beloved husband, father, grandfather, coach, teacher, and friend, passed away surrounded by family on October 1, 2025, at Northcrest Healthcare Center in Ames, IA. He was 83 years old.

Born April 25, 1942, in Webster City, Iowa, to Keith and Mildred Van Winkle, Kerry’s life was defined by faith, family, and football. His family moved to Ames in 1943 after living in Gilman City and Grinnell. A proud graduate of Ames High School in 1960, Kerry went on to earn a B.S. in History with minors in Education and Physical Education from Iowa State University in 1964, followed by a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling in 1967. On June 16, 1968, Kerry married the love of his life, Marty Jean Dublinske, beginning a partnership rooted in love and shared devotion to family and community.

Kerry’s career as a teacher and coach spanned five decades and touched countless lives. He began teaching and coaching at Northeast Hamilton (1965–1968), serving as guidance counselor, history teacher, and coach of football, basketball, and track. From 1968–1974, he taught and coached in Kanawha, Iowa, where he was head football coach, basketball coach, baseball coach, and helped restart the softball program. His 1973 football team achieved a perfect 9–0 record and was the highest scoring team in the state for their class, finishing his Kanawha coaching career at 32–16–3.

In 1974, Kerry joined Roland-Story Schools, where he built a legendary coaching and teaching legacy over the next 41 years. He taught social studies, physical education, and driver’s education, and served as head football coach until 2013, head girls’ track coach until 2015, and also coached girls’ basketball and junior high boys’ basketball. His football teams earned 275 career wins (243 at Roland-Story), made the playoffs 17 times, won multiple conference and district championships, and captured back-to-back state titles in 1980 and 1981. In 1991, Kerry was inducted into the Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and in 1981, he was named Iowa State Coach of the Year. Kerry finished his football coaching career with a record of 275-147-3. Even after retiring from teaching in 2004, he remained dedicated to the sport, serving as a volunteer coach at Ames High School from 2016–2019.

Outside of school and sports, Kerry found joy in pheasant hunting, family vacations at Table Rock Lake, reading, going to the movies, working on Sudoku and crossword puzzles, and one of his greatest pleasures—watching his grandchildren in all of their activities, from trap shooting and softball, as well as music, speech and theater events, to basketball, football, baseball, and even soccer. He was a devoted member of Salem Lutheran Church in Roland since 1974, where he served as a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and trustee.

Above all, Kerry’s greatest pride was his family. He is survived by his children: Holly Van Winkle of Ames; Kris (Mike) Vinson of Roland, with their children Dana and Braden; and Kyle (Jenna) Van Winkle of Ames, with their children Kruise, Riggins, Collins, and Colbie. He is also survived by his sister, Judy Handy of California, and her children, Cassie and Nick.

Kerry was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Marty Van Winkle; his parents, Keith and Mildred Van Winkle; his brother, Rick Van Winkle; his mother and father-in-law, Leo and Jane Dublinske; and two brothers-in-law, Bill Handy and Marc Dublinske.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 8, at 11:00 a.m. at Kerry Van Winkle Field in Story City. A short viewing will precede the service. Graveside burial for close friends and family will follow the service, and all are invited to a luncheon at Salem Lutheran Church in Roland. Visitation will be held Tuesday, October 7, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Salem Lutheran. Guests are encouraged to wear Roland-Story colors—red, black, and white—in celebration of Kerry’s lasting impact on the Norsemen community. 

In case of inclement weather, the funeral service will be held at the Salem Lutheran Church in Roland.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts will be directed toward establishing a scholarship fund for Roland-Story students, as well as supporting local Special Olympics programs. These causes reflect Kerry and Marty’s lifelong dedication to shaping young lives through sports and education and their passion for building character, community, and opportunity for others.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff of Northcrest Community and St. Croix Hospice for the compassionate care, support, and dignity they provided Kerry. Your dedication and kindness made an extraordinary difference to him and to our family, and for that, we are deeply grateful.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.adamssoderstrum.com

Adams Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangments.