A Farewell to Capt. Winky

A family friend asked Huntley Fire Chief James Saletta how many lives Capt. John “Winky” Winkelman saved.

Saletta told her that firefighters don’t keep track. The girl asked if Winkelman was a hero.

He recalled the time he was at a baseball game and Winkelman saw a man who had fallen to the ground. Winkelman jumped into action, giving the man CPR until an ambulance arrived. The man lived.

“Yes, John was a hero,” Saletta said told Winkelman’s family, friends and firefighters who came Wednesday to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Union to bid goodbye.

Winkelman received a hero’s farewell with an honor guard, a crossed aerial ladder, the ringing of a silver bell indicating his last alarm and a procession of fire engines from surrounding fire departments. His casket was placed on one of the Huntley fire engines along with his hat and coat.

The 54-year-old Marengo resident died April 12 in a motorcycle accident on Route 176. His wife, Lyn, his daughters, Sherie O’Neil, Tara Swafford, Julie Winkelman and two stepsons, Matthew and Richard Altepeter and grandchildren Samantha, Morgan, Elijah, Avery, Chloe, Lilliana, and Chase survive him.

Winkelman was a Huntley firefighter for 23 years, rising to the rank of captain 10 years ago. The Marengo resident was also with the Marengo Fire Department for 18 years.

During his career, he received a Humanitarian Award for his efforts to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He was part of a group that went to New Orleans to help.

Chief Saletta was among those giving a eulogy, along with Winkelman’s fellow captains, Scott Ravagnie, Keith Mallegni, Russ Wilson and retired Capt. Kevin Ellison.

Saletta met Winkelman 10 years ago when he joined the Huntley fire district. Winkelman was a new captain.

“My life is richer for knowing him and I am grateful for having him be part of my life,” Saletta said.

Winkelman played an important role in mentoring firefighters and reviewing protocols. His laid-back demeanor made him a calming figure at fires or other emergencies, the chief said.

“He gave us a sense of control in the middle of chaos,” Saletta said.

As a shift commander, he personality helped him build harmony, teamwork, defuse conflicts, he said.

Ravagnie was a rookie when he started working with Winkelman. The younger firefighter was on a barn fire, one of his first big fires, with Winkelman.

“The fire was massive,” Ravagnie said. Winkelman was calm, cool and collected. “I can still picture John on the pump handle with a little less grey hair.”

Ravagnie said Winkelman was kind, compassionate and not afraid to show his soft side. He would use his own comb to brush Smokey, the station’s cat and would feed squirrels out of his hand.

He also was laid-back, fun-loving and a true jokester who loved to come up behind people and make them jump, Ravagnie said.

“You know that saying, ‘Take time to smell the roses?’ ” Ravagnie said. “I believe John did it, in his own way. He stopped and appreciated everyday things in life.”