Posted on 03/29/2006 1:39:17 PM PST by Colonel Kangaroo
Minister Dan Winkler’s message to the congregation of the Huntingdon Church of Christ Sunday morning centered around such words as love, appreciation, forgiveness and kindness as he told how he and his family had coped with the tragic turn of events over the last few days.
This was the first Sunday service after the minister’s son, Brian Matthew Winkler, was slain in his parsonage home in Selmer, on March 21 and his wife, Mary Winkler, charged with first degree murder in the case. Matthew Winkler, the middle son of Dan and Diane Winkler, was minister of Fourth Street Church of Christ there.
Dan and Diane Winkler were vacationing in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg when news reached them of their son’s death.
The Winklers were able to obtain temporary custody of Matthew and Mary Winkler’s three young daughters through court proceedings Friday in Orange Beach, Alabama.
“His message touched all of us,” said Jennifer Butler, a member of the congregation. “It helped ease some of the pain that we’ve been feeling and showed us his great strength of faith.”
During the service, the minister spoke of his love for God, the church, the local congregation, fellow church members, his family and the town of Huntingdon as he further told of his appreciation for law enforcement officials and the news media for their assistance in helping locate those “three precious babies.”
“I can’t tell you want it meant to be met by friends we’ve known for 20 years,” said Winkler of their return home from vacation and Alabama.
This is the second close Winkler family member who has died over the last few months. Wendell Winkler, the father of Dan Winkler, died Oct. 23 of last year after a long battle with cancer. He served as a former head of the Bible Department at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala.
“I’m thankful for the Huntingdon Church of Christ and the town of Huntingdon” he said. “What wonderful support that Huntingdon will give these three babies.”
He mentioned the family’s closeness to the local congregation. “We love no one more than we love you,” he said.
Calls have come from all over the world and people have traveled hundreds of miles just to be with the family for 30 minutes to embrace them and weep with them, he told the congregation during the service that was broadcasted over WVHR-FM radio station in Huntingdon.
“I am thankful for the kindness of mankind,” he said.
On their return trip home with the three granddaughters, he said someone recognized them during one of their stops and paid for their meals.
“We were 13 hours on the road with those three babies who never complained,” he said.
The minister said there was much kindness shown them by the Selmer authorities, TBI, ADI and FBI as they worked with the case.
He expressed his thankfulness for the America media and the role they played in helping with the case.
“Sometimes they get a black eye,” he said. “But there’s something to be said about them. The media has been involved in our lives.”
There have been offers for him to appear on several morning shows and news networks.
The two questions most often asked, he said, are “Is there a spokesman for the family?” and “Is there a fund because the nation is wanting to help?” He recognized if it hadn’t been for the Amber Alert that was circulated through the media that “we might not be blessed with these precious babies today.”
He expressed thankfulness for family members, including his mother, brothers, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, his oldest and youngest sons and grandchildren.
“I look forward to being a daddy again,” he said as he mentioned raising his grandchildren and becoming involved in school activities.
He emphasized that he was thankful for his son who is no longer with the family.
“I know the kind of husband and father he was and what a man he truly was,” said the minister.
And lastly, he expressed thankfulness for his daughters-in-law.
Before the family left Alabama, he said each family member visited with Mary Winkler, embraced her and reaffirmed their love for her with a willingness to forgive.
I've heard them say she is fragile, blank, etc. etc. etc..
How did she ever manage to drive to Orange Beach, AL with three kids in a minivan in this condition. There's lots of folks who couldn't do that in the best of situations!
The one thing that I got from my time in the trenches that is still with me is my wife. In addition to my work on professional ambulances I also did time on the volunteer ambluance in my home town. For six months I was the crew chief on the Friday night shift (no one else would take it). And the woman who is now my wife and her mother were my crew. Of course I got spoiled as my wife did everything I told her... then we got married... ;^>
Check you mail in a second.
Some good info about psychiatric drugs here. I would just like to add that I have recently experienced Severe Discontinuation Syndrome from going off Effexor. I had severe episodes of nausea and vomiting three times within 48 hours after missing a dose or stopping it to switch to another anti-depressant. The info to TAPER OFF ANY PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS is very important and even then you will sometimes have problems. And sad to say there is still a lot of stigma attached to mental illness (including depression) in some areas.
Whether or not this has any bearing on the Winkler tragedy, I admire so much the way they and their community are handling this tragedy
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