Funeral Services Set For Six Year CAL Fire Veteran

Sonora, CA — Funeral services for 68 year old Donald A. Winkler will be held Saturday, December 13 in Camarillo.

In honor of Winkler flags within the CAL Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit are currently flying at half staff and will do so until December 14.

Winkler had just completed his sixth season as a firefighter stationed at the Columbia air Base where his main duty was to load the tankers with fire retardant.

Winkler was killed during the Saturday noon hour when he apparently lost control of his 1997 Suzuki DR-Z 400 motorcycle on an unpaved dirt and gravel roadway (Forest Rd. 4N01) near the Crandal OHV parking area in an extremely remote area of eastern Tuolumne County.

According to CHP Officer Tom Wills Winkler was attempting to traverse a curve to the left. He ran off the north edge of the roadway striking a tree. Alcohol has not been considered a contributing factor in the accident.

Winkler was transported to a helicopter by Tuolumne County Ambulance and was pronounced dead by attending physicians upon his arrival at Sutter Amador Hospital.

Written by Bill Johnson