Jean M. Wheeler

Jean Mosley Wheeler died Jan. 4, 2016 after a long and fun filled life. She was born in Dedham, MA on Feb. 6, 1922 to Arthur Loring Moseley and Eugenia Augusta (McColl) Moseley. Together with her childhood friends, who called themselves the Wednesday's Hypotenuse Club, Jean enjoyed outdoor adventures, many of which took place at her family's ocean cottage in Quanochontaug, RI. After studying music briefly at the New England Conservatory, Jean transferred to Wheelock College, where she majored in Education. Jean then took a teaching position at a private school in Pinehurst, NC, but left that job to marry Warren (Spike) Wheeler, Jr. on Feb. 22, 1946. Following their nuptials, Jean and Spike moved to Columbia, MO, where the pair began their family (and made some deep, lasting friendships!) while Spike completed a Master's degree in Journalism. When Spike took a position at the South Bend Tribune, the pair moved to Indiana, where they spent most of their married life. Committed to family, friends, and fun, Jean and Spike owned a cottage on Lake Michigan, in Bridgman, MI, that was a frequent gathering place for loved ones. In retirement, Spike and Jean moved to Marco Island, FL, where an amazing number of their friends also retired. In 2008, after Spike's death, Jean moved to Fort Collins, CO, where she joined Plymouth Congregational Church and continued to make new friends. Jean enjoyed tennis, golf, bridge, bonfires on the beach, and sing-alongs with the piano and the tiple. A boating enthusiast, Jean sailed and motorboated: one of Spike's and her greatest adventures was taking their sailboat down the Mississippi River, from Michigan to Marco Island, and Jean also had fun with her own motorboat, Yankee Doodle. Throughout her life, Jean provided service to her community: in the mid-1960s, she was proud to have served on the Panel of American Women, which encouraged open discourse on race, religion and culture; and she also served on the Junior League and PEO. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Gene Moseley; her brother, Arthur Loring Moseley, Jr.; and her grandson, Nick Russo. Surviving Jean are her children Rick Wheeler (Jeannette), Mike Wheeler (Judy), Ann Lundeen (Steve), and Duncan Wheeler (Sheila Ruth); grandchildren Duncan, Bart, and Austin Wheeler, Loring Pfeiffer, and David and Gage Wheeler; as well as eight great-grandchildren. The Wheeler family is deeply grateful to the staff of Alta Vita Memory Care Facility in Longmont, CO for the loving care that they provided Jean for the last year and a half. A Memorial Service is planned for 2PM on Feb. 6, 2016 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Fort Collins. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association or to Hospice. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.