George Richard "Dick" Wheeler

George Richard “Dick” Wheeler, born April 17,1930, passed away in God’s peace on Sunday, April 15, 2018, surrounded by his loving family and friends.  Dick is survived by his wife, Barbara, his children Diane (Rick) Kightlinger, Lynn (Dave) Amato, Carol Shepherd, Lisa (Joe) Howie and Ken Wheeler and his step children Kathy (Harry) Leist, Gary (Yvonne) Rose, Debra (Roger) Knutson, Renee Eriksen and Judy (John) Stevens, as well as many grand and great grandchildren.

Dick was a Christian, an artisan and a musician - a lover of God, life, adventure, laughter, people, playing games, music, the great outdoors and animals - especially his dogs.  He loved to fish, hunt animals and birds, mushrooms, antique bottles, blueberries and agates.  He collected coins, antique beer bottles, license plates, agates and funny stories.

He spent his life trying to think of ways to help people.  He tried to be a faithful and honest man but towards the end of his life he wished he could have been even more so.
 
He was blessed with an attitude of gratitude during the last years of his life.  He was grateful for his mother, grandparents, aunts and uncles, both of his wives, their children and their spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren and his many, many friends.  He was especially grateful for two of his personal physicians - Dr. Louis Cannon and Dr. Geralyn Doshkosh, who also cared for him on the last day of his life.

He was grateful to have had the chance to own a sailboat and to captain a much bigger one; to pilot an airplane; to have owned and operated his own metal stamping business; to be a leader of the Explorer Scouts, to have designed and built a full scribe log cabin and all of its furnishings; and to have spent days and hours searching for agates on the shores of Lake Superior.  He was grateful to his grandfather for instilling within him his love of gardening and to his children who helped him keep one in his later years.  He felt truly blessed by God.

Dick’s family will host a celebration of his life on Friday, April 20, 2018, from 4:30pm until 6:30pm at Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc., 621 Main Street in East Jordan, MI.  Service will be held Friday, April 20, 2018, at 5:30 P.M. at the funeral home.

Please make any memorial contributions to: Grandvue Medical Center’s Alzheimers Wing, Boy Scouts of America, Boyne City Dog Park or East Jordan Rotary Club.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV)

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