Cliff Buchan
News Editor

There was little historic in Wink Moenís early years in Forest Lake. But the former business owner and life-long area resident here saw history made during his Army stint in Italy during World War II.

Moen was serving with the Armyís 34th Infantry Division on April 28, 1945 when the soldiers witnessed fighters of the Italian Resistance storm the garrison where former dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta Petacci were held.

The troops watched as the pair was executed and hung upside down in a public square.

It was a moment that would remain with Moen forever. Moen, 87, died from lung cancer on Thursday, April 27 at his home in Chisago City.

After the brutal death of the dictator and his mistress, Moen and another solider, out of dignity and decency, later draped the bodies in blankets, said his son, Mike Moen of Forest Lake.

Moen had served in the Army from the outbreak of World War II. He participated in the invasion of Sicily and several other combat operations with the 34th.

He was a platoon sergeant stationed in Rome and ordered to patrol the area in northern Italy were the Italian dictator and his mistress were being held.

Roots in FL

Moenís roots were deep in the fabric of Forest Lake.

Following the war, Moen returned to Forest Lake and worked in the dry cleaning business in Cambridge. He married Dorothy Mahoney of St. Paul and they were the parents of six children.

In 1954, Moen teamed with the late Norman Burger and opened B & M Liquors in Forest Lake.

Moen eventually bought out his partner and changed the name to Winkís Liquors.

During his years as a liquor store owner, Moen also worked as a steward cashier on passenger trains to Seattle for the Great Northern Railroad.

He sold the liquor store business in 1962 and it continued to operate under the Winkís name until its sale to Dazy Maze in 2004. Moen continued with the railroad until his retirement in 1980.

The Moens owned a retirement home in Sarasota, FL and spent winters there until Dorothyís death in 1995.

For the past several years, Moen lived with a son, Terry, and his family in Chisago City. He continued to spend summers in the Forest Lake area and the winter months in St. Petersburg, FL.

ìHe always considered Forest Lake home and looked forward to returning for the summer months to be with his children and grandchildren,î Mike Moen said.

ìWink enjoyed his family and friends.î

During his years in business in Forest Lake, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was a member of American Legion Post 225 and VFW Post 4210.

He was a volunteer firefighter in Forest Lake for 20 years.

Moen history

Winfred Milo Moen was born on a family farm near Alamo, ND, on June 9, 1918. His siblings nicknamed him ìWinkî because Winfred was a hard name to pronounce, Mike Moen said.

John and Augusta Moen and their nine children moved to a farm south of Forest Lake in 1933 during the height of the Great Depression.

As a young man, Wink Moen worked at the Bixby General Store in Forest Lake and the Elwell Dairy Farm with his brother, Harold.

As a teen, he worked as a pin setter at the bowling alley in the basement of the Commercial Hotel which is today the Forest Laker.

Funeral details

A Mass of Christian Burial for Winfred ìWinkî Moen was Tuesday, May 2 at St. Bridgetís Catholic Church in Lindstrom. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery, Forest Lake.

Moen is survived by one brother, George (Dee) Moen, Atlanta, GA; one sister, Lori (Vince) Bianchini, Los Altos, CA; children Michael (Jill), Patrick (Sandy), Terrance (Kandy), Mary (Paul, Jr.) Giel; Susan (Jim) Lindstrom; and Thomas (Beth); and 14 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, one infant daughter, Katherine, brothers Harold, Ernest and Dale and sisters Jeanette, Trudy and Genevieve.

Memorials to the family are preferred.

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Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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