Wendy J. Winkleman

Wendy Jo Winkleman, 65, was born January 7, 1961, in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, to Gary Winkleman and Barbara Leeper (West). She departed this life on February 15, 2026.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Wendy’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the 4-H Building at Riverside Park in Independence, Kansas. The family will greet friends following the service until 4:00 p.m.

Wendy grew up alongside her three brothers, twins Gary and Terry Winkleman and Michael Winkleman. She graduated from Dixie Holland High School in 1979. She later moved to Independence, Kansas, where she married John Rodriguez in 1982. Together they welcomed three children by 1986.

Wendy worked for several companies in Independence before becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant. She was employed at Glenwood Estates for several years and later began working at Cessna in 1998, where she remained until 2017. She later made her home in Coffeyville, Kansas, and was employed at Sirloin Stockade, Country Mart, and K&S Gas Stations until her passing.

Wendy was a devoted mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister who cherished time spent with her family.

She is survived by her father, Gary Winkleman; her mother, Barbara West of Georgia; two brothers, Gary Winkleman Jr. and Michael Winkleman and wife Lisa of Wichita, Kansas; her three children, Candace Rodriguez of Florida, Stefanie Rodriguez and life partner DeAntae Perkins of Independence, Kansas, and Dakota Rodriguez and wife Stephanie (Ashley) Rodriguez of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; eight grandchildren, Izaiah Rodriguez and wife Heaven of Coffeyville, Kansas, Nadiah Simmons of Jacksonville, Florida, Jonathan Simmons and fiancée Mckynze of Jacksonville, Florida, Anyah Simmons of Jacksonville, Florida, Dakota Rodriguez Jr. and Alexis Rodriguez of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Luka and Maleek Perkins of Independence, Kansas; and one great-grandchild, Izaiah Rodriguez Jr.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Terry Winkleman.