Obituary

John Wheeler, 78 of Roy Utah, passed away Wednesday morning, July 20, 2022 at the Ogden Regional Medical Center in Ogden, Utah. Memorial services will be held at a later date and burial, with full military honors, will be held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of New Sharon is in charge of arrangements.

 

John William Wheeler, the son of Samuel and Mildred (Wilson) Wheeler, was born on October 28, 1943 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He a graduated from North Mahaska High School in 1961. He then went to the University of Iowa receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and his Master of Science Degree in Political Geography. During his graduate program, John taught "Introduction to Geography" at the University. John was also a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Social Fraternity while at Iowa. On September 2, 1967, John was united in marriage to Patricia Thoma of Fairfield, IA. To this union two children were born, Brad and Jennifer.

 

In December 1966, John received his commission as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Air Force. He began his active-duty service at RAF Alconbury, England as a Munitions Supply Officer for all bases under NATO. In 1973, John went to Kunsan AFB, Korea for a year, followed by an assignment to Hickam AFB, Hawaii where he worked at headquarters, Pacific Air Forces. His final assignment, in 1980, was to Hill AFB, Utah. John retired in 1994 as a Lieutenant Colonel with 28 years of service. John then began a career as a Logistics Engineer with L-3 Communications in Salt Lake City, Utah, retiring in 2014. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and the University of Iowa Alumni Association. He was an avid reader and a huge Iowa Hawkeye fan where the Hawkeye Flag flew at his home on every game day. He also loved spending time with his family and coaching his son, Brad's, soccer team. He was proud to be a life-long Democrat.

 

His legacy will be honored by his wife Patricia Wheeler of Roy, Utah; his son, Brad Wheeler of Salt Lake City, Utah; his daughter, Jennifer (Rob) van Wingerden of Schoorl, Netherlands; his granddaughter, Emily Jeanne van Wingerden; his brother, Larry Wheeler of New Sharon and many other relatives and friends.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert "Bobby" Wheeler and his sister-in-law, Dixie Wheeler.