A Tribute to Jan Kincer

June 3, 2025 | PK Magazine | Uncategorized

Story by Mary Hill | Photo by Erika Carter

Jan Kincer, a lifelong restaurateur and Possum Kingdom resident for almost 50 years, will soon be setting up her new home near Wellston, Oklahoma. She’ll take her spunky spirit and work ethic with her, but the PK community will continue to enjoy her legacy.

For some, finding their life’s calling isn’t always easy, but Jan Kincer isn’t one of them.

Kincer was someone who found her calling early in life, then ceased knowing if she was working or playing. “What a way to make a living” has been her motto, with the realization that it’s ultimately about serving others by using her unique abilities.

Kincer, a lifelong restaurateur and Possum Kingdom resident for almost 50 years, will soon be setting up her new home near Wellston, Oklahoma. She’ll take her spunky spirit and work ethic with her, but the PK community will continue to enjoy her legacy.

Kincer was born in February 1944, and her early years were spent in the Arkansas communities of Mina and Hot Springs. She said she was rarely called by her given name, Janice Ann, unless her mother needed to get her attention, such as the time she got a job at Hot Springs’ infamous Southern Club Casino at the age of 16 without her parents’ permission. Upon finding out, her mother, who was a registered nurse, burst through the door of the club still in her nurse’s uniform – and wearing rollers in her hair, too – and politely escorted her daughter out of the building.

Kincer’s father, an Army infantryman who later owned a drywall business, set the tone for entrepreneurship and hard work, as did Kincer’s mother, who served in the newborn nursery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hot Springs. Their family of six (including Kincer’s brother and two sisters) had everything they needed, and life was good, Kincer said. According to her, Hot Springs was a cool place to grow up, and she described her parents as wonderful.

“I never had a spanking in my life, other than the time Mother chased me with a switch and I hid under the bed,” Kincer said.

The road to finding her calling began early with a stop at the Old South Restaurant in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Kincer said. In her job as a waitress, Kincer said she learned to do something she loved while making a living at the same time. No task was too small for her, she said, and somehow she knew it would lead to something greater.

“I knew then that I loved waiting on people, and it fed us pretty well,” Kincer said. “I tried to make sure everybody had a good time.”

Another stop on her journey included the opportunity to flip hamburgers at night at a bus station while pursuing higher education at the University of Arkansas. She said she also considered that experience a success, because she liked what she was doing.

In the early 1970s, Kincer made her way to Dallas, where she worked for Dunston’s Steakhouse. This family-owned business, with its rich history and commitment to service, was the perfect place for Kincer to refine her craft in serving others. After leaving Dallas, she was asked to return for a year and work directly with Gene Dunston, the steakhouse’s founder, to open the firm’s new location on Harry Hines Boulevard. The opportunity showcased Kincer’s ability to create success wherever she went through hard work and persistence.

In 1973, Kincer began working with Norman Brinker, restaurateur and founder of Steak and Ale. She managed Brinker’s Willow Bend Polo & Hunt Club in Plano, Texas, and said it was such a big move that those closest to her at the time were surprised. She described the experience as “quite a feather in my cap,” and it showed she was more than willing to learn from the best.

Still not content to rest on her laurels, Kincer jumped at the chance to climb to the 38th floor in Dallas’ Bryan Tower (featured as the home of Ewing Oil in the 1980s television series “Dallas”) to work for Country Clubs of America. She said the job was out of her comfort zone, but it didn’t stop her from taking on the challenge.

“At that time, there were few women in jobs like this.” Kincer said.

During her time in Dallas, she met and married Jimmy Kincer. She said she knew him through a good friend, and they had a lot in common. He opened truck stops for TravelCenters of America and was an amazing cook, she said. Kincer said she called herself “Uptown Jan,” while her husband represented the other side of the coin, and together they made a successful team.

Kincer and her husband often visited PK and loved dining at a quaint little place called La Barcaza (“The Barge” in Spanish) on FM 2353, where the Possum Kingdom RV Resort is located today. It was that restaurant that eventually led to the ultimate calling for Kincer.

In 1978, Kincer’s mother stepped in once again to help guide her daughter.

“Janice Ann, why don’t you buy that little restaurant you like out there at the lake?” asked her mother. “You know you can make it a money maker.”

So Kincer called the La Barcaza owners to find out if they would be willing to sell, and their response was to ask how fast she could get to PK to sign the papers. After a quick renaming, The Winds Restaurant was under construction, with Kincer at the helm to write her new chapter in PK. The restaurant’s structure was described as very strong and well-designed, with seating for about 110 customers. It was made from a barge that was pulled from the lake by the prior owners.

Kincer began working her magic on the building to give it a new look, removing part of the exterior brick and adding windows and awnings so that it no longer was a “little old dinky café.”

With Kincer’s experience in the restaurant business and her husband’s skill at cooking, they created what many called a nice club with excellent food. The Winds was known for being a place where folks knew each other and gathered each weekend to catch up on the events in their lives, and even western actor Dale Robertson was a customer.

Kincer’s labor of love treated the community to a fine dining experience that included The Winds’ signature dish, “Beef Ala-Oscar,” which was more than just a tenderloin steak inspired by a Las Vegas restaurant; it also was an expression of her creativity and culinary vision. (As of this writing, Kincer has shared the recipe for this popular dish with PK Magazine readers, so look for it in this edition.)

While her husband handled the cooking responsibilities at the establishment, Kincer took care of everything else. She was, at times, a hostess, decorator, hiring manager and caterer, and also tended the bar, where she served a specialty drink known as “Brandy Ice.” (Kincer shared that recipe with PK Magazine, too.)

Kincer said she poured her heart and soul into running The Winds for 21 years. Its service expanded to lunches, and the PK Bridge Club met there every Wednesday during that time, with Kincer as the cook. Free parties also took place at The Winds four times a year, with live music on New Year’s Eve. Kincer said she was helped by community leaders so she could offer these gatherings for free, and added that she’ll forever be grateful to those who made it possible.

As her way of saying thanks, Kincer often provided for families by holding receptions for funerals held at McAdams Cemetery. After those services concluded, Kincer would open the restaurant and provide hors d’oeuvres, coffee and tea to those who had attended the services.

Catering also played a key role for both The Winds and Kincer. From wedding rehearsal dinners for friends to christenings and other family events, Kincer was able to stay busy even during slow times in the restaurant business. One customer, Anna Koncak, recalled how Kincer catered the rehearsal dinner for her and her husband, Bobby, “just 42 years ago.”

Many local families trusted Kincer with their special events, and she said she enjoyed every minute of it, even though it was hard work. She also has not forgotten when she conducted a private party to honor a “very handsome” Texas governor.

As Kincer and her husband grew older, they decided to sell The Winds and take life at a slower pace. For her, that meant embracing new challenges as a real estate agent, and Kincer’s 25-year career in that field has included working with Possum Kingdom Real Estate, Johnson Properties and Berkshire Hathaway. Kincer said she still remembers her first day with Berkshire Hathaway, when she was welcomed with a huge bouquet of flowers on her desk, and Marsha Bettis, Jackie Fewell, Linda Fewell and Anna Koncak made her feel right at home.

That feeling continues to this day, as the Berkshire Hathaway team has referred to Kincer as being hilarious, a treasure, a local legend and a delight to be around.

“Hilarious” might be a way to describe one of Kincer’s early Sunday morning scouting adventures for a client. Always one to do her homework, she was in search of a boathouse that went with one of her listings, so she drove her new Cadillac to the area to survey the structure. As she walked to the water’s edge, she looked back to see her car rolling down the hill toward a propane tank. In her scramble to stop the car, she ended up underneath it. Luckily, a man came along to pull her out, and he stayed with her until an ambulance arrived. Kincer, who escaped serious injury, logged the experience as just another service call for one of her clients.

Her dear friend and protégé at Johnson Properties, Jo Lynn Miller, remembered how Kincer always went above and beyond for her clients. Miller said when Kincer sold a property, she could recall the names of the buyer’s children, and often followed up with birthday and holiday gifts for them.

The efforts Kincer put into getting a listing sold included cleaning the residence, preparing hors d’oeuvres for open houses, and opening her own pocketbook to make sure requested appliances would convey with the sale. She said one of her most common phrases was, “You’ve got to do what it takes to make it work.”

Kincer’s list of real estate successes at PK is a long one, but she considers the purchase of Lush Resort by Bo and G Bennett as her most famous sale.

In the midst of her active work life, Kincer also found time for the Possum Kingdom Women’s Club, where she displayed her giving heart by cooking for two of their banquets, serving 125 people. Club members still recall this gesture, and described Kincer’s presentations as “always fancy.”

Kincer also earned notice with her sense of fashion. She evolved into her own PK style from her earlier days of wearing can-can skirts and hot pants, and she mentioned how she traded in the uptown look from her Dallas days for a more country vibe when she moved to PK. It’s still up for debate how much of a country vibe she emits, though, with her PK style of just the right shoes, bag, scarf and jewelry.

Those who know Kincer at all might have been waiting patiently to be introduced to Tinker Bell, her devoted and adorable companion. Like her master, Tinker Bell has quite a sense of fashion and personal style. Her butterfly bow and rhinestone-studded choker (worn for this article’s photo shoot) says it all. Tinker Bell plays a close second to Kincer in the number of friends at PK and is looking forward to her new home, where she can play with the deer, and Kincer has Tinker Bell’s pink teddy bear on the packing list for the trip to Oklahoma.

As a serious lover of animals, Kincer is also known for her many rescues of both cats and dogs. The good thing for these rescues is that they have Kincer in their corner with her knack for selling and her abundant supply of friends. She plans to take her latest two rescue cats (named Willie Nelson and Billy the Kid) with her to Oklahoma, and she’s already thinking about how they’ll enjoy exploring the property and sunning on the porch.

Kincer describes her PK neighborhood on McAdams Road as her “little nest” for more than 40 years. When her husband died in 2018, she became even closer to her neighbors, and Kincer talks often of this special group of people who have meant so much to her, including Carolyn and Pat Fisher, Juli and Brandon Bledsoe, Derek Edmonds, Laura and Craig Brown, and Shirley Gentry. All of them have supported Kincer in so many ways, and she said she is grateful to have met them.

Now, though, it’s time for Kincer’s next remake. According to Darlene Carnley, her good friend and hairdresser for more than 40 years, Kincer has remade herself three times. The first time was by excelling in the restaurant business, the second time was with her success in real estate, and the third time is how she is now going to be a grandma and great-grandma (otherwise known as Nanu).

Kincer will soon settle into her new location on 5½ acres in the rolling hills just 40 miles outside of Oklahoma City. She said she already has a home on the property and just needs to finish landscaping – and get her storm cellar ready, too. She also has a “to do” list that includes finding a women’s club, a senior citizens center and a church to attend. She and her daughter-in-law, Sandra, will be tackling the list together. Kincer’s only son, Vance, passed away several years ago, but her grandson, Brandon, and her 7-year-old great-granddaughter, River, will be nearby and able to visit often. It seems Kincer loves River even more than Tinker Bell, and perhaps that’s because River is so much like her Nanu, at least according to friends of theirs. River even raises show pigs, which will give Kincer new animals to love.

A person’s calling is not about them, though. It’s bigger than that, in that it matches who that person is and how he or she brings fulfillment to others. The PK community has been blessed both by Kincer’s calling of service and the fact she chose to share it with others for almost 50 years.

“Something that would bother most people didn’t bother me, and I’m so proud to be able to say that,” Kincer said. “It’s been a very interesting life.”