John Wheeler

John Wheeler

Roy

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 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 Arts Degree in Political Geography. During his graduate studies John taught “Introduction to Geography” at the University. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. 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.

Having been in Air Force R.O.T.C. at Iowa, John received his commission as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Air Force in December 1967. He began his active duty service in June 1968 at RAF Alconbury, England, as a Munitions Supply Officer, supporting NATO. In 1973, John went to Kunsan AFB, Korea, followed by a 5-year assignment to Hickam AFB, Hawaii where he was assigned to PACAF headquarters. Additional military schooling included Squadron Officers School and Air Command and Staff College. John retired in 1994 as a Lt.Col. and began a second career as a Logistics Analyst with L-3 Communications in Salt Lake City, UT., retiring in 2014. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the University of Iowa Alumni Association. John was an avid reader and a huge Hawkeye fan, flying the Hawkeye flag at his home on every game day.

His legacy will be honored by his wife Patricia (Thoma) Wheeler of Roy, UT. and Fairfield, IA.; his son Brad Wheeler of Salt Lake City, UT.; his daughter Jennifer (Rob) vanWingerden-Wheeler of Schoorl, Netherlands; his granddaughter Emily Jeanne Elizabeth vanWingerden; his brother Larry Wheeler of New Sharon; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Robert Wheeler. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project; P.O. Box 758516; Topeka, KS 66675 in memory of Lt.Col. John Wheeler or the Jeanne Thoma Memorial Scholarship; % The Greater Jefferson County Foundation, P.O. Box 1325; Fairfield, IA. 52556