Jennifer Christine (Thompson) Wintz, 54, of Independence, Missouri passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Research Medical Center. Visitation will be at 1:00-1:30 on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at Six Mile Baptist Church, funeral services will follow at 1:30. Jennifer was born on March 13, 1970 in Kansas City, Missouri to Michael and Janet (Bowling) Thompson, the oldest of three daughters. Her earliest years were spent in Independence, Missouri and Monterey, California before the family settled in Sibley, Missouri. As a high school student, she was invited to participate in the highly selective Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program. She spent her senior year of high school as a foreign exchange student in West Germany, where she formed close friendships with her host family and became fluent in German. Jennifer graduated from Fort Osage High School with the class of 1988. After high school, she attended college for one year at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri and for several semesters at Metropolitan Community College-Blue River, where she earned her associate’s degree. She was a lifelong member of Six Mile Baptist Church and was a valued mentor to many teens in the girls’ youth group when her younger sisters were participants. On October 20, 2001, Jennifer married Tony Wintz. They settled in Independence, Missouri, where they raised their family, including Jennifer’s son from her previous marriage and Jennifer and Tony’s two daughters. Jennifer’s career was spent working for GEHA in medical review. Jennifer’s interests included many artistic and culinary pursuits. She loved a wide range of musical styles and attended local concerts. She played the piano and was a gifted vocalist herself, participating in school choir and theatre and singing at church and family gatherings. She taught herself to spin yarn and to knit, and she handcrafted knitted projects as a hobby. She was an excellent cook and baker, and her dishes were highlights of every family gathering. She also loved animals, and her household included many beloved pets during her lifetime. She passed on to her children her love of learning, cooking and cuisine, and animals. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, and aunt, and will be missed by many.

Jennifer is survived by her beloved husband Tony; children Josh Brown, Lillian Wintz, Genevieve Wintz; mother Janet Thompson; sisters Sarah Parsons and Kara Thompson. She was preceded in death by her father Michael Thompson

Obituary submitted by the family.

Arrangements: Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home Independence, MO (816) 796-8600