It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a senior skydiver!

Jan Jeffe said skydiving gave her one of the biggest thrills of her life. Dave Cook says it gave him an “absolutely awesome” view of the earth. Kay Winkelhake is an experienced athlete and coach and says skydiving fits into her lifestyle perfectly.

More and more Sun Citians are jumping out of airplanes at 14,000 feet these days – what’s next? A skydiving charter club? What else will residents try – hang gliding? Climbing Mt. Everest? Bungee-jumping? Snow-boarding?

Okay, we’re overstating things here. But one thing is certain about the “daredevil” in many seniors: the number of residents diving through the skies is increasing. Conversations with the three latest Sun City “divers” gave this writer some insights into why this exhilarating activity is becoming popular with the 55-and-over set. Readers may remember this all began with Mary Lou Dorgan’s 70th birthday dive last year.

Dave Cook and Jan Jeffe came to Sun City about seven years ago and have been partners for that same time. They have adopted a kind of “bucket list” approach to some adventurous things they have long wanted to do. They went to the Chicago Skydiving Center in Rochelle on August 10 and jumped one after the other from the same plane.

“I’m the ‘get it done’ organizer, and Dave is a wishful thinker,” Jan said. “Sometimes he has to watch what he wishes for when he talks to me.”

“I said, ‘Skydiving is something I’d like to try,’” Cook said. “So the next thing I know, she is on the Internet finding places and making reservations.”

A librarian in his professional life and a slightly built, low-key guy, Cook said he wasn’t too nervous. “We are harnessed to an experienced diver who steers us and provides security and instruction,” he said. “I kept my eyes open and enjoyed the absolutely awesome view. I could see the curvature of the earth, and I could see 180 degrees all around. I could see the Chicago skyline from 150 miles away. It was really exciting.”

“I didn’t feel the wind so much, and when we opened our chutes, it got quiet and we just floated down,” Jan said. “It was a really thrilling and relaxing experience at the same time.”

The two have zip-lined and gone white-water rafting in Oregon recently, more activities on their “bucket lists.” Their recently adventurous activities are in sharp contrast to their careers. Dave, a native of Pittsburgh, was a professional librarian in Pennsylvania and in Connecticut for 30 years. Jan was an elementary school teacher for 30 years. The two met at a church function when they moved to the Chicago area to be near children and grandchildren.

Winkelhake takes a different approach. A retired physical education teacher and volleyball coach at Schaumburg High School, now in her early ’60s, she has always led an active, athletic, exercise- and fitness-filled life.

“When I was younger, two of my four brothers were skydivers and encouraged me to try it. They told me a lot about how it was done, and I vowed to try it,” she said. “But my busy life interfered for a long time, and I finally got around to it in 2010, on my 60th birthday. I knew I would enjoy it, and I loved it. I went again a year later.”

Winkelhake also enjoyed the view.

“We jumped near a cloud, and then we passed it and the view of the earth and horizon opened up. It was beautiful,” she said. “You can’t be nervous doing this; you’re too busy getting ready and listening to the guys. I really enjoy having the pictures of me and the clouds below us.”

All three skydivers had videos made by jumpers with cameras on their helmets.

So, skydiving, anyone? We’ve got softball, tennis, bocce ball, bowling, billiards, ping-pong, volleyball, swimming, skeet shooting, fishing, and biking – how about ratcheting up the excitement a bit?

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