Spc. Damon G. Winkleman, 23, a U.S. Army combat medic, of Lakeville, died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, from injuries received in a vehicle-rollover accident while responding to a call for support for a unit pinned down by enemy fire. As the Bible says: "He laid down his life for others."
Damon was born Feb. 25, 1986, in Wooster, the son of Richard W. "Wink" and Patricia G. (Murphy) Winkleman. He was a lifetime resident of the Lakeville area and member of St. John Lutheran Church, McZena, where he was a member of Luther League and church choir as a youth.
Damon was a 2004 graduate of Loudonville High School, where he was a member of the football and baseball teams, as well as the jazz and marching bands. Additionally, while in high school, he was a member of the Academic Challenge Team and enjoyed playing in a local "garage band." He was voted by his Loudonville High School senior class as "Most Likely to Become President of the United States."
Following high school, Damon attended Marion Military Institute of Marion, Ala., where he received his associate degree in military science. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2007 and was a member of operation "Enduring Freedom" assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Some of his passions were music, woodworking, fishing and all things out-of-doors. His two favorite places were the lake by his house and Carolina Beach. There wasn't a tree, animal or piece of anatomy he couldn't identify. He has been described by his friends and family as a delightful young man who enjoyed giving and receiving hugs.
In addition to his parents, Damon is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jason and Crystal Winkleman of Wooster and Sgt. Nathan and Kelly Winkleman, presently deployed to Iraq through Fort Campbell, Ky.; two nephews, Tyler and Trevor Winkleman; aunts and uncles, Jo Ellen and Thomas Zilko and Terry and Bea Murphy, all of Wooster, and Harrison and Deb Murphy of Lakeville; and his godparents, Kim and LuAnn McCullough of Shreve.
Damon was born Feb. 25, 1986, in Wooster, the son of Richard W. "Wink" and Patricia G. (Murphy) Winkleman. He was a lifetime resident of the Lakeville area and member of St. John Lutheran Church, McZena, where he was a member of Luther League and church choir as a youth.
Damon was a 2004 graduate of Loudonville High School, where he was a member of the football and baseball teams, as well as the jazz and marching bands. Additionally, while in high school, he was a member of the Academic Challenge Team and enjoyed playing in a local "garage band." He was voted by his Loudonville High School senior class as "Most Likely to Become President of the United States."
Following high school, Damon attended Marion Military Institute of Marion, Ala., where he received his associate degree in military science. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2007 and was a member of operation "Enduring Freedom" assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Some of his passions were music, woodworking, fishing and all things out-of-doors. His two favorite places were the lake by his house and Carolina Beach. There wasn't a tree, animal or piece of anatomy he couldn't identify. He has been described by his friends and family as a delightful young man who enjoyed giving and receiving hugs.
In addition to his parents, Damon is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jason and Crystal Winkleman of Wooster and Sgt. Nathan and Kelly Winkleman, presently deployed to Iraq through Fort Campbell, Ky.; two nephews, Tyler and Trevor Winkleman; aunts and uncles, Jo Ellen and Thomas Zilko and Terry and Bea Murphy, all of Wooster, and Harrison and Deb Murphy of Lakeville; and his godparents, Kim and LuAnn McCullough of Shreve.
Spc. Damon G. Winkleman, 23, a U.S. Army combat medic, of Lakeville, died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Zabul Province, Afghanistan, from injuries received in a vehicle-rollover accident while responding to a call for support for a unit pinned down by enemy fire. As the Bible says: "He laid down his life for others."
Damon was born Feb. 25, 1986, in Wooster, the son of Richard W. "Wink" and Patricia G. (Murphy) Winkleman. He was a lifetime resident of the Lakeville area and member of St. John Lutheran Church, McZena, where he was a member of Luther League and church choir as a youth.
Damon was a 2004 graduate of Loudonville High School, where he was a member of the football and baseball teams, as well as the jazz and marching bands. Additionally, while in high school, he was a member of the Academic Challenge Team and enjoyed playing in a local "garage band." He was voted by his Loudonville High School senior class as "Most Likely to Become President of the United States."
Following high school, Damon attended Marion Military Institute of Marion, Ala., where he received his associate degree in military science. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2007 and was a member of operation "Enduring Freedom" assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Some of his passions were music, woodworking, fishing and all things out-of-doors. His two favorite places were the lake by his house and Carolina Beach. There wasn't a tree, animal or piece of anatomy he couldn't identify. He has been described by his friends and family as a delightful young man who enjoyed giving and receiving hugs.
In addition to his parents, Damon is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jason and Crystal Winkleman of Wooster and Sgt. Nathan and Kelly Winkleman, presently deployed to Iraq through Fort Campbell, Ky.; two nephews, Tyler and Trevor Winkleman; aunts and uncles, Jo Ellen and Thomas Zilko and Terry and Bea Murphy, all of Wooster, and Harrison and Deb Murphy of Lakeville; and his godparents, Kim and LuAnn McCullough of Shreve.
Damon was born Feb. 25, 1986, in Wooster, the son of Richard W. "Wink" and Patricia G. (Murphy) Winkleman. He was a lifetime resident of the Lakeville area and member of St. John Lutheran Church, McZena, where he was a member of Luther League and church choir as a youth.
Damon was a 2004 graduate of Loudonville High School, where he was a member of the football and baseball teams, as well as the jazz and marching bands. Additionally, while in high school, he was a member of the Academic Challenge Team and enjoyed playing in a local "garage band." He was voted by his Loudonville High School senior class as "Most Likely to Become President of the United States."
Following high school, Damon attended Marion Military Institute of Marion, Ala., where he received his associate degree in military science. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 2007 and was a member of operation "Enduring Freedom" assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Some of his passions were music, woodworking, fishing and all things out-of-doors. His two favorite places were the lake by his house and Carolina Beach. There wasn't a tree, animal or piece of anatomy he couldn't identify. He has been described by his friends and family as a delightful young man who enjoyed giving and receiving hugs.
In addition to his parents, Damon is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jason and Crystal Winkleman of Wooster and Sgt. Nathan and Kelly Winkleman, presently deployed to Iraq through Fort Campbell, Ky.; two nephews, Tyler and Trevor Winkleman; aunts and uncles, Jo Ellen and Thomas Zilko and Terry and Bea Murphy, all of Wooster, and Harrison and Deb Murphy of Lakeville; and his godparents, Kim and LuAnn McCullough of Shreve.
