Bryan Todd Wheeler

He was born May 16, 1960 in Topeka, Kansas to William Clifford and Donna Rose (Collins) Wheeler. He was raised by his mother.

In 1982, Bryan was married to Christine Schlechte in Mynard, Nebraska. Three children were born from this union, Bryan Jr., Lyndsey, and Shelby. They would later divorce.

Bryan would go on to marry Maria Cynthia, of Naga City, Philippines, on July 20, 2012, in Chestertown, Maryland. She survives of the home.

He graduated from Circle High School in Towanda, Kansas in 1976, where he was a star in numerous extracurricular activities, notably the school’s debate team. Bryan went on to enlist in the United States Air Force. While on active duty in the Air Force, Bryan also worked on completing his bachelor’s degree, with the intent of later pursuing a law degree. Bryan finished his education at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas, graduating in 1988 with a Juris Doctor. Following graduation, Bryan commissioned in the Air Force as a Judge Advocate General (JAG), or military lawyer.

Bryan had a distinguished career in the Air Force as a JAG, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As a JAG for the Air Force, he served as defense counsel, prosecutor, and military judge on hundreds of cases and argued numerous cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. His tours of duty included Miami, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Germany; and Bay Area, California.

Following his retirement as an officer in the Air Force, Bryan carried on his career of distinguished public service and went to work as a healthcare lawyer for the Department of Defense. Bryan served in various leadership roles over 17 years, working with the Defense Health Agency and TRICARE Management Activity in Falls Church, Virginia and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Outside of work, Bryan had many interests, including traveling, going to concerts, reading, fishing, and watching sports. He was particularly passionate about the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas Jayhawks.

As a traveler, Bryan visited all 50 U.S. states and all seven continents. Most notably, Bryan traveled with Cynthia all over the world: Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America, and the United States, but especially Alaska. The two of them loved Alaska so much that Bryan and Cynthia made it their home.

Though his love for travel and exploring led him all over the world, his love remained for his state of origin, Kansas, the Sunflower State. His love for Kansas was great, so much so, that it influenced all three of his children, who grew up all over the world during his tours in the Air Force, to attend and graduate from the University of Kansas. Bryan frequently returned to Kansas to visit family and friends and one of his proudest honors was when he returned home to be honored as a Distinguished Alumni of Circle High School in 2019.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Bill and Frank.

Survivors include his wife Cynthia; three children: Bryan Wheeler Jr. (Ashley) of Silver Spring, Maryland, Lyndsey Degenhard (Ben) of Annapolis, Maryland, and Shelby Wheeler of Melbourne, Australia; sister, Susan Bousquet (Ron) of Omaha, Nebraska; and six grandchildren: Carol, Emmy, Ezra, Hope, Izzy, and Roger.

Memorial services will be held on August 30, 2024 in Annapolis, Maryland, with friends and family gathering at 11 AM, with funeral services starting at 12 PM at John M. Taylor Funeral Home, 147 Duke of Gloucester St, Annapolis, MD 21401. Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate if you could donate to help fund a memorial bench dedicated to Bryan in Cape St. Claire, Maryland, where he lived for 16 years.