Retha Marcella Wheeler

Born May 18, 1939 in Vienna to Fred Marine and Ethel Mae (Willis) Jungers, she was very close to her beloved brother, Garlen Jungers, who passed away in 2018.

Retha graduated from Pekin Community High School and attended Pillsbury Bible College in Minnesota, where she met her beloved husband, Dean E. Wheeler. They married on July 9, 1960 in Riceville, Iowa and later moved to Illinois where they started their farm and lived and raised their family for over 50 years.

Dean and Retha were married for 53 years when he passed away in 2013.

Retha was blessed with four children, Russell (Robin) Wheeler of Lincoln, Ruth Anne (Wheeler) Jager who passed away in 2001, Donald (Lee) Wheeler of Delavan and Jerry (Stacy) Wheeler of Washington; fifteen grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Retha will always be remembered for her kind and giving heart, her amazing cooking, including the time she worked at Casey’s making pizzas. Retha was a devoted farm wife and was a teacher’s assistant at Blessed Hope Christian Academy in Tremont. She enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and spending time with her family.

Retha devoted her life daily to our heavenly Father in prayer and reading His Word. She had a heart for praying for family, friends and others.

Her funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 6, 2024 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Pastor Tim Ellison, Pastor John Worsham and Evangelist Ken Graham will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Private burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to Town & County Baptist Church in Pekin or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Her granddaughter, Megan Wheeler, was a loving caregiver for her grandmother. The family would also like to thank Hospice Compassus for their care for Retha.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com