John Wayne Windholz

John Wayne Windholz, age 76, passed away following an acute respiratory illness on the evening of January 16, 2026. After his wife, Cindy, along with other close family members and friends, gathered at his bedside to say goodbye, staff of the VA Medical Center assembled to salute his flag-draped body, accompanied by the solemn esonance of “Taps.”

John was born in Denver, Colorado, on November 2, 1949, to Elmer and Sally Windholz.

After graduating from Aurora Central High School in 1968, he enlisted in the United States Army. He was deployed to Vietnam, where he demonstrated courage, loyalty, and steadfast dedication to his fellow soldiers.

Following his honorable discharge from military service in 1971, John returned home and built a life rooted in hard work and devotion to family. He worked for more than 30 years as a National Sales Training Manager in the retail camera industry. During his career, he pioneered the development of training programs for associates in the art of needs-based selling, a new concept at the time. In addition, he developed and taught customer-focused classes designed to help people get the most out of their photography experiences. He especially enjoyed taking students out of the classroom on “field trips” to Red Rocks in partnership with Hawk Quest, the Butterfly Pavilion and other venues where they could practice their skills in real-world settings. He was often the man behind the camera at family gatherings, which explains why people frequently asked, “Wasn’t John there?”

In his free time, John was an avid pool player—some might even say a “shark”—earning a bit of local notoriety as the man you didn’t want to bet against. His favorite opponent, whether playing pool or chess, was his son Wayne, who grew up learning both games of strategy from his dad. John was also a history buff and loved having intellectual discussions, whether in the living room or under the stars; he spent many hours contemplating the wonders and beauty of the universe.

John was also a sports buff. His Dad, who built and fielded dirt track race cars, passed his passion for racing on to his son, who served on the pit crew for #101 from high school until the day his Dad retired from racing. A football letterman in high school, John loved to watch the game and root for the Denver Broncos. He was also an avid Rockies fan. In fact, he enjoyed watching just about any kind of competitive sport.

More than anything, John appreciated time spent with his family. From enjoying active summer days in Glenwood Springs to joining raucous family gatherings and holiday celebrations, John was there— laughing, telling stories, taking pictures, and serving up his famous deviled eggs. He was a great cook and enjoyed working with Cindy in the kitchen, finding and preparing new recipes. Cindy says she can continue to bring deviled eggs to family events, “but they won’t be as good as John’s.”

John’s wit and unfailing willingness to help whenever he was needed is demonstrated by the ring tone he selected for a sister who frequently needed his help fixing things: the theme from Mission Impossible. His immense love for his wife and family will be deeply missed and never forgotten. He was a devoted husband and father, a loving son, a loyal brother, and a steadfast friend. To put it simply, he was a good man.

John is survived by his wife of 41 years, Cindy Windholz; their sons Wayne Windholz and Kelly (Emily) Bates; six grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and his sisters Judy Bradley, Joyce Dechant, and Jennie Davis, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son Grant Bates (survived by wife Petrina).

A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Horan & McConaty Mortuary, 11150 E. Dartmouth Avenue, Aurora, CO 80014. Full military honors will follow at Fort Logan National Cemetery; 4400 W Kenyon Ave; Denver, CO 80236.