Robert E. Wheeler
Graveside services for Robert E. Wheeler, 79, Babbitt, Minnesota, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the Mackey Cemetery, Pomona, Missouri, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, West Plains, Missouri.
Mr. Wheeler passed away Thursday, May 16, at Essentia Health – St. Mary’s, Duluth, Minnesota. He was born March 5, 1934, to Rufus Earl and Frances Alabama Ehrich Wheeler in Flandreau, South Dakota. He attended high school in Colcord, Oklahoma and served 20 years in the Air Force where he flew various aircraft logging over 10,400 flight hours including one year with the 360th Tactical Warfare Squadron in Vietnam. He served as interim pastor at Woodland Presbyterian Church, Babbitt, Minnesota, and was pastor of Jesus is Lord Church, Embarrass, Minnesota. As a licensed pastor with the Assemblies of God he pastored an Alaska home missions church in Emmonak, Alaska.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Bruce Wayne Wheeler and Jordan Star Wheeler; sisters, Mary Frances (Rev. Jack T) Vaughn and Mary Ellen Porter Wheeler.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Joyce McGreer Wheeler of Babbitt, Minnesota; children, Robert Edward (Brenda Marie) Wheeler, Petersburg, North Dakota, Michael Alan (Deanna) Wheeler, El Cajon, California, Cynthia Lynn (Steve Manley) Johnson of Springfield, Missouri, Amy Marie (Norman Charles) Taitano of Henderson, Nevada; siblings, Gerald Doyle (Stella) Wheeler of Cody, Wyoming, Alice Ehrlich (Harris) Jacqmin of Sugarland, Texas, and Dorothy Lorraine Swearingen of Cottonwood, Idaho; 18 grandchildren, 22-great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Birdie Wheeler of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Sharon Marie (Michael) Gaston of West Plains, Missouri; and much loved cousins, nieces and nephews
Funeral services were held Monday, May 20, at Babbitt Assembly of God Church, under the direction of Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely. Visitation was one hour prior to the service. Memorials contributions may be made to Babbitt Assembly of God Church, and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.