John Winkelman - Firefighter - Illinois

Firefighter John Winkelman, age 54, of Margeno, Illinois, died on April 12, 2012, on a highway in Illinois.

John was a Fire Captain with the Huntley Fire Protection District. He had 24 years of service. 

Saint Florian, Patron
Saint of Firefighters,
pray for John

John died in a motorcycle accident. He was on his way back home from a meeting with the communications center in Crystal Lake when the accident occurred on Route 176 at Mt. Thabor Road around 3 p.m. He was on his motorcycle attempting to turn east on Route 176 when the driver of a Chrysler reportedly blew a stop sign and collided with him. John was not wearing a helmet at the time. He was taken to Centegra Memorial Medical Center in Woodstock, where he was later pronounced deceased.

John was known as "Winky" to his buddies.

He joined the Huntley Fire District in January of 1988 as a firefighter. He was made captain in June of 2001. As a captain, he was a shift commander in charge of everyone on duty in the district’s four stations.

Fire Department officials describe John as easy going and level headed, who was a practical jokester, and who was loved by everybody. They stated that he will never be forgotten. 

John is survived by many loving friends and relatives including his wife and his 5 children. 

Let us pray to God the Father, Jesus, all of the saints and all of the angels that John Winkelman is in heaven. Let us pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.