LEWISBURG, Pa. — The Lewisburg community is mourning the unexpected loss of Larry “Iron Larry” Winans, the beloved co-founder of Jackass Brewing Company, retired dentist, accomplished Ironman triathlete, and longtime youth soccer coach, who died on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the age of 61 after suffering a cardiac arrest while competing in the Happy Valley Ironman 70.3 triathlon.
According to his family and Jackass Brewing Company, Winans experienced a severe cardiac arrest during the swim portion of the Ironman event on June 14. Despite immediate assistance from first responders and medical professionals, he never recovered from the medical emergency and passed away one week later. His death has prompted an overwhelming outpouring of tributes from the Pennsylvania business community, athletes, former patients, and countless friends whose lives he touched.
Known affectionately as “Iron Larry” among fellow athletes and “King Larry” to many children he coached and mentored, Winans lived a life defined by passion, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to making others smile. Before entering the brewing industry, he practiced dentistry in Lewisburg for more than 25 years, eventually becoming an instructor in cosmetic dentistry at the nationally recognized Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), where he trained fellow dental professionals.
Winans’ entrepreneurial journey began with longtime friend Skip Kratzer, when the pair transformed a shared homebrewing hobby into what would become Jackass Brewing Company. The brewery opened its flagship Lewisburg location in March 2020, just days before statewide COVID-19 restrictions took effect. Through determination and strong community support, the business survived the pandemic’s early challenges before expanding to Williamsport in 2023, becoming one of central Pennsylvania’s most recognizable craft breweries.
Reflecting on his transition from dentistry to brewing, Winans once explained his motivation with characteristic humor: “My mission in life is to make people smile; I’m just doing it a different way.” That philosophy became the foundation of the brewery’s culture and resonated with employees, customers, and friends alike.
Away from his professional accomplishments, Winans was a dedicated endurance athlete whose love for triathlon earned him the nickname “Iron Larry.” He completed eight full Ironman races, 15 Half Ironman competitions, and numerous marathons, inspiring fellow competitors through his discipline, determination, and enthusiasm for the sport. Friends often recalled that mentioning the distinctive Ironman tattoo on his calf was enough to spark stories from his many races and adventures.
Winans also made a lasting impact on local athletics as a soccer coach at Lewisburg High School, helping guide the program to back-to-back Pennsylvania state championships. Former players remember him not only for developing winning teams but for teaching perseverance, sportsmanship, and confidence that extended far beyond the playing field.
Above all, family remained the center of Larry’s life. He is survived by his wife, Xaña Winans, whom he married in 1993 after the couple met while working together at a dueling piano bar, along with their children, Ryder and Savannah, and his sisters, Michelle Zilkowski and Cindy Munch. Family members described him as a devoted husband and father whose greatest joy came from sharing life’s adventures with those he loved most.
Friends and community members gathered to celebrate his life during visitation and funeral services held on June 28 at Rooke Chapel on the campus of Bucknell University, followed by a celebration of life at Jackass Brewing Company in Lewisburg. In honor of Winans’ legacy of generosity, the family requested that memorial contributions be made to the Gift of Life Donor Program in lieu of flowers.
Larry “Iron Larry” Winans will be remembered as an accomplished entrepreneur, respected dentist, dedicated coach, passionate endurance athlete, and loving family man whose enthusiasm for life inspired everyone around him. His legacy lives on through the brewery he helped build, the community he strengthened, and the countless smiles he brought to others throughout his remarkable life.
Leave a Reply