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6 January 1943 – 16 February 2025
One of Mangawhai’s finest, Jim Wintle, was farewelled in a bittersweet life celebration of his life on February 27 that honoured a man who left behind a significant legacy created from his enduring love for the community.
Hundreds of people gathered for the ceremony at Mangawhai Beach School Recreation Centre, illustrating the depth of respect the community held for the 82-year-old.
As memories and tributes flowed from his friends and family – wife of 47 years Lynda and sons Mark and Andrew – it was clear Jim touched the lives of many with his ‘cheeky’ humour, support, can-do attitude and warm spirit, as well as through his tireless contribution to multiple community projects.
CauseWay Church pastor Colin Chitty, who officiated, said that it was difficult to know where to start when telling the many stories about Jim.
“One I will share is that at the (Mangawhai) gala a few years ago, Jim had set up a hole-in-one for golf chipping with $1 a ball and $1000 prize money,” he said. “I said ‘Jim we’re here to make money, not to lose it’ and he said, ‘That’s all right, I made the hole and no ball is going in there’.”
Colin also shared a letter from retired Mangawhai Senior Constable Graham Gough, which read, “with Jim, I’m always reminded of the Big Dig”.
“Under the cover of darkness, an exercise of subterfuge was committed by an unruly mob of Mangawhai identities – many of them sitting in this room – to reopen the harbour, all done in total secret. Not willing to compromise my integrity as a police officer, Jim managed to keep me totally in the dark! We’ve lost a mighty totara, but his legacy lives on in this beautiful town.”
Jim will be remembered for his impressive list of achievements. He was instrumental in helping to construct many local buildings including the golf club, school hall, Anglican Church, vicarage and museum, where he is immortalised in the Big Dig exhibit. Additionally, he dedicated countless hours to various local committees.
Born and bred in rural Mangawhai, the eldest son of Claude and Alice Wintle, Jim took on the family farm after his father was killed in a car accident in 1965. He met Lynda on a cruise ship, they married, had two children and Jim opened Mangawhai Building Supplies. With a business attitude of ‘it’s not all about money’, he was well-known for supporting local projects by giving a discount rate for materials. In 2006, he sold to Placemakers and retired.
Jim helped form the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society (MHRS), serving as chair for five years and was awarded a life membership in 2010.
The action-man also served at various times as Mangawhai Golf Club president, club captain, patron and life member, Mangawhai Community Trust chair, and patron of Mangawhai Fishing Club. He helped set up Mangawhai’s first community patrol (the Moreporks) and lobbied the government for a local police station, was a Justice of the Peace, a Mangawhai Cemetery sexton and was involved with the setting up of Mangawhai Park and Historic Village. He was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal in 1997 for services to the community.
When the Mangawhai-built vessel, the Daring, surfaced on Muriwai beach in 2018, Jim was the driving force behind bringing the 19th-century schooner home and served as Daring Trust chair right up to his death.
With all his community involvement, longtime friend Richard Bull said, “retirement was really out of the window”.
“Jim worked well with people, was full of common sense, modest and had no time for egos. He was bold, persuasive and reliable and had a vision that looked right out to the future,” he said. “I will always cherish the time I spent with him; he was a fantastic guy and I’m proud to call him my friend.”
Sadly, the Wintle family has suffered a double loss with the ailing health of Jim’s oldest sister Joy Gee nee Wintle, who was unable to attend her brother’s life ceremony. Joy passed away a day later, on February 28. The Focus Team would like to extend their sincere condolences to the Wintle family at this difficult time.
