John Daniel Winkelman, age 69, of Auburn, IA passed away peacefully at his home after a short battle with cancer on Sunday, May 1, 2022.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, May 9, 2022 at the Carroll First Church in Carroll with Pastor Dave Hagen officiating.
Visitation will be held at the Carroll First Church from 5-7 P.M. on Sunday evening. Visitation will resume on Monday from 10:00 until 10:45 A.M. prior to the service.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.
The family requests you wear your blue jeans to the celebration of life in honor of John.
John Daniel Winkelman was born on November 29, 1952, in Jefferson, IA, to Lloyd and Dorothy (Dalrymple) Winkelman. He was a 1971 graduate of Perry High School and a 1977 graduate of Iowa State University. At the end of college, he developed a passion for persons with disabilities while working at Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Here he served veterans needing prosthesis and others with physical and mental needs. In 1977, he helped established CASS, Inc. in Atlantic, IA, assisting people with disabilities to develop work and independent living skills and mainstreaming their lives into society. This is where he met his future wife, Judy. They married in 1979 and moved to Lake View where John became executive director of the Howard Center, Inc. John caused waves in the human services field with his casual dress of blue jeans and long hair. From 1979-2013 John continued to advocate for people with disabilities. He served on state boards challenging the government philosophy at the time to keep people with disabilities hidden. HCI was the first agency in the US to start homeownership for this community and residential services so they could live in their own homes. He also founded the Sac Area Recycling Center to provide jobs for the disabled and for the outside community.
In their life together, John and Judy had a strong faith that challenged them in their desire to make the world a better place. They saw the potential in people by giving advice to help start businesses and make life decisions. They were a foster parent home from 1982-1993 keeping two girls as their own. From 1987-1990 they owned and operated Black Hawk Cruise Lines, a 44’ paddle boat offering cruises in Lake View. In 1993 John and Judy bought their beloved cabin in the woods and built the home they designed.
He cherished his phone conversations with Rich and Bob, fishing time with Dawn, political talks with Tasha, and teasing Emily. He loved visits from the grandkids but enjoyed the quiet when they left. John loved the peace of fishing, especially on his Alaskan trips visiting his best friend and brother, Merle. At his secluded woods he enjoyed giving his opinions on Facebook, lawn chair hunting, his classic cars, his animals, and carving. He loved travelling the world with three trips to Germany with his brothers selling research combines, Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, and long drives across the lower 48. He established many more relationships and memories too numerous to mention.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Judy, his children, Rich (Tonya) Jensen, Bob (Noelle) Winkelman, Dawn Newman, Emily (Dan) Ferneding, Tasha Nieland (Drake); his sisters, Marilyn (Dave) Dvorak, Marcia Murphy (Pat), and sister-in-law, Deb Winkelman; thirteen grandchildren, Jessica (Mike) Peterlich, Nicole (Cody) Huggins, Jayda Jensen, Willem & Nathan Cope, Adrian & Ann Newman, Jake, Callie, Kate, & Joel Ferneding, Ryker & Emma Nieland; and one great grandson Jensen Peterlich; nephew Kade Winkelman and niece Kayla Schark who sacrificed many days with John in the end. Many more nieces, nephews, cousins, and two aunts, Rose & Barb.
In death he rejoins his parents Lloyd and Dorothy Winkelman. His brothers Merle, Kenny, & Brian Winkelman, his brother-in-law Mike Murphy, and his in-laws Ercell and Mary Fortney.