James W. Wheeler Jr.
James W. Wheeler, Jr., 82, died peacefully at Swedish Memorial Hospital in Lakewood, Colo., Thursday, March 23, 2017. He had been ill briefly.
At Jim’s request cremation and spreading his ashes at a favorite spot will take place at a later date with special services for family and friends. There will be no service.
Jim was born in 1934 in Eolia to Grace Lewis Wheeler and James W. Wheeler, Sr. He grew up and went to school in Eolia. On graduation he entered the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean Conflict until 1955 . He was a member of the American Legion, a lifetime member of the VFW, and a member of the NRA.
In 1956 he married Darlene Rimel in Elsberry. Three children were blessed to this union.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene of Glenrock, Wyo., Allan Wheeler and wife, Cheryl of Lafayette, La., and Rusty Wheeler and wife, Janice of Sheridan, Wyo., and Caye Bordewick of New Canton, Ill.; six grandchildren, Joe Wheeler and wife, Kandy and Cydney Wheeler Dixon of Sheridan, Wyo., Kalie Edwards and husband, Brandon of Newton, Kan., Joshua Wheeler of Lafayette, La., Nicole Bordewick, Jacob Bordewick of New Canton, Ill.; six great-grand-children, Adema, Ayrian and Aiden Dixon, Nathan Wheeler, Brandon and Evelyn Williams of Sheridan, Wyo.; brothers, John and wife, Marilyn of O’Fallon, Paul and wife, Evelyn of Louisiana, and sister, Marilyn Forgey and husband, Bill of Ames, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Gilbert Rimel and wife, Nancy of Elsberry; and many nieces and nephews and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, in-law parents, George and Fannie Rimel of Elsberry, son-in-law, Tim Bordewick and aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was an instrument/electrical tech and employed on the Lock and Dam in Alton, Ill., then at Missouri Chemical Works (Hercules) in Louisiana until 1981 when he took employment for Pacific Power & Light in Glenrock, Wyo., where he retired in 1999.
James enjoyed visits with family, reading and his computer and motorcycle riding until 1981 when he gave it up. Hobbies were collecting old tools and records, reading and learning history of old Wyoming.
Memorials can be made to donor’s choice.
