Richard "Jay" Winkelman

Richard “Jay” Winkelman was born in Wahoo, Nebraska on November 30, 1963 to Richard G. and Vergie (Howell) Winkelman. He grew up on the family farm near Leshara, attending country school and later graduating from Mead High School in 1982. He went on to attend Midland Lutheran College earning bachelor's degrees in both computer science and math, graduating in 1986. On November 17, 1984, Rich married his high school sweetheart, Sandy Sweeney, at the Alma Lutheran Church in Mead, Nebraska. They lived in Fremont for a short time, before moving out to the country next to the farm Rich had grown up on. This is where they raised their four children. For over 40 years, Rich worked as a programmer at Valmont. He also enjoyed working on the family farm and driving the farm truck around. Rich was also very skilled with building and restoring houses. In his younger years, Rich enjoyed playing football and basketball, and he was a dedicated Huskers fan. Rich built model trains, even setting up a track that went around his office and through the closet which served as a tunnel. Everyone knew Rich loved to make homemade ice cream, and he always made enough to fill up an entire freezer. Rich loved his family very much and had so much fun with his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching all of their sporting events and other activities, took them 4 wheeling, and he gave them his famous “couch rides”. This would involve Rich setting up a couch on a trailer and pulling it around the farm with a tractor; it was an incredibly fun experience unique to the Winkelman farm. As Rich tinkered around the farm, he would ponder, “What if a guy…?” followed by whatever he was planning. He also always told his family, “Let’s get fired up!” Rich was always expecting the correct response of “We are fired up!” which he sometimes received. There was definitely a fun side to Rich, in addition to him being a diligent and hardworking man. He was also very dedicated to his faith, being a part of the Lutheran Church throughout his life. Rich was very caring, thoughtful, and giving, always thinking of others and how he could help them. He was also the leader of his entire extended family and the go-to person when anyone needed advice. Rich was preceded in death by his father, Richard G. Winkelman; brother, Chris Winkelman, and nephew, Jeff Hermanson. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Winkelman; children: Sara (Don) Chappelle, Mary (Pat) Sedlacek, Rich II (Melissa) Winkelman, William (Frankie) Winkelman; grandchildren: Wyatt Peoples, Nolan Peoples, Abby Johnson, Jackson Peoples, Case Chappelle, Lucy Chappelle, Ella Sedlacek, Iggy Sedlacek; mother, Vergie Winkelman; siblings: Lorie (Terry) Hermanson, Marie (Bubba Brabec) Scott, Alice (Terry) Lorenzen, and Jill (Rob) Proctor; and many nieces and nephews. VISITATION: 5-8pm Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Reichmuth Funeral Home in Yutan, NE. FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30am Monday, June 16, 2025 at Pohocco Lutheran Church, 2363 Co Rd 11, Fremont, NE 68025. Memorials may be directed to the Pohocco Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

Richard "Jay" Winkelman

November 30, 1963 - June 7, 2025