An Illinois woman has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving; a pair of healthy children, the keys to a German-made SUV, and the fact that when her life depended on it, she parked in front of a hero in waiting.

Jeff Hanus was calmly sitting on the side of the road in his cement truck at the Ozinga job site near Bolingbrook at I-55 and Route 53, listening to classical Chinese violin on the sound system in his coat, hat, and gloves.

All of a sudden, his working day became very unusual, as a woman pulled up in front of his truck, got out, and gave the international symbol that her airways were blocked: two hands on the neck.

Hanus, a former Army infantryman, jumped into action and performed the Heimlich maneuver, three thrusts up and in from under the ribcage, which dislodged the piece of food that was choking her.

"I was in the right place at the right time, and I did what, in my opinion, most people would have done," he told Inside Edition with all the composure of a classical violinist.

But that wasn't the end of this font of silent charisma, who had some more words to say when he spoke to Fox 32, when he reflected on accusations of being hero.

"There's a Native American saying: it is not the path that we walk, it is how many lives we touch along the way," said Hanus.

The Chicago Bulls reached out to Hanus and gave him free courtside tickets for his heroism.

WATCH the story below from Inside Edition… 

SHARE This Man's Right Place Right Time Rescue With Your Friends…