Winnie Ancar Sr.

Winnie Ancar, Sr. entered into eternal rest on Monday, May 16, 2022 at the age of 98. He was born on January 24, 1924 to the late Victor and Bernadette Phillips Ancar in City Price, LA. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. Winnie leaves to cherish his memory three daughters, Sonya Ancar, Jennifer Ancar Stewart, and Marcie Kinloch (Johnny), one son, Winnie Ancar, Jr (Lisa) and one daughter-in-law, Celeste Ancar, 13 grandchildren Gerald Ancar, III (Valerie), Tori Ancar Olin, Jonathan Ancar, Brett Stewart (Kim), Travis Stewart, Jeremy Stewart, Alaina Stewart, Lance Ancar (Lauren), Dr. Farren Junca Laplace (Jean Pierre), Tory Jones, Heidi Evans R.N. (Troy), Stafford Tureaud III and Corinne Teal (JB); 22 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Mazie Sylve Ancar; his parents, Victor and Bernadette Ancar; son, Larry Thomas Ancar; two brothers, Wilmer and Curry Ancar; sister, Bernadette (“Cotte”) Bartholomew and three sons-in-law, Gerald Ancar, Jr., Benjamin Stewart, Jr., and Stafford Tureaud, Jr. Winnie was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943 when he was 19 years old. He was not afraid. He was proud of his service in World War II where he stormed the beaches of Normandy with his unit. He was a French interpreter and also guard of German prisoners. He spoke often of his experiences in WWII. Every year, while he was able, he presented to Belle Chasse High School on Veterans Day. He was a charter member of the WWII Museum in New Orleans and in 2004, he was appointed by Plaquemine Parish Council as the veterans representative for the parish and traveled by train with his family to participate in the dedication of the World War II Museum in Washington DC. On June 10, 2014, he was presented with the French Legion of Honor medal by the Consulate General of France, Jean Claude Brunet on the 70th Anniversary of D-Day at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, which is the highest decoration in France, for the liberation of France from the Nazis. He was also inducted, along with 17 others into the order of the Chevalier(“knights”) the highest degree within the Legion. He gave many interviews to newspapers and participated in the Oral History collected by the WWII Museum about his experiences. You can listen to his oral history by typing his name into YouTube. He never tired of talking about the war and the Black experience in WWII. Winnie retired from the Red Star Yeast Company after 30 years of service. After retirement he enjoyed hunting, fishing and trawling with his wife. “Wine”, like most people called him and “Paw-Paw'' to every child he met, liked to dance the Limbo Rock at local weddings, he loved a good party and never missed a wedding ! He had albums of photos he took throughout his lifetime of the people of Diamond and Port Sulphur. Most of those albums were lost in Hurricane Katrina. He also helped to integrate Port Sulphur High School in 1967 ; he coached little league, and advocated with the Parish President to establish Diamond Park. He was an avid reader and cut out many articles he thought were important to go back and revisit. Winnie was a peaceful man and lived his life that way, he was always ready to help anyone who asked.
We want to especially thank his granddaughters, Corinne Teal, Heidi Evans and her family, Troy, Chase and Kelsie for taking excellent care of daddy while he was in Texas. Also, we thank our cousin Sherryl (“TeeTa”) for taking care of him at his home in Diamond. The family would also like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at the Southeast Veterans Hospital and the VA Community Living Center of New Orleans, the Southeast Veterans War Home in Reserve, LA, the VA Regional Medical Center and World Health Services of Houston,Texas and the Loving Kindness Agency of Marrero, LA for the love and care they gave to our father during his time of need. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 28698 Hwy 23, Port Sulphur, LA on Friday, May 27, 2022 at 11am. Visitation will be held at the church from 9am until 11am. Interment, Diamond Cemetery, 115 Irene Lane, Port Sulphur, LA 70083. Family and friends may view and sign the online guest book at www.mothefunerals.com .