Robert Dale Wheeler was born in Wheaton, Illinois, 77 years ago during a very cold Illinois blizzard. His parents, Dallas and Inez Wheeler, named him after Inez's favorite brother, Robert Quirk Bridson. The following year, his parents moved to California and eventually settled near the P.G.&E Wishon Power House on Kirkhoff Reservoir. It was the perfect place, a mountain lake home, for Bob to grow up with his sister, Judy Wheeler, and his brother, Milton Wheeler. He loved swimming, fishing, hunting, and playing the piano.
Bob graduated from Sierra High School, and the next two years attended Reedley Junior College. During the summer of his last year of college, he married Diane Nisewanger and they finished their senior year together, graduating from Fresno State University with B.A. Degrees. Six months later, he was called into military service. He became a pilot in the United States Air Force and spent the next six years flying for SAC, Strategic Air Command. During his service he spent time in Spain, England, and Vietnam. He became Captain and received the high honor of serving on Stand Board.
After serving his country, Bob taught Industrial Arts to high school students for thirty years. First teaching at Irvington High School and then at Washington High School in Fremont, California. Many of his students came up to him later and thanked him for teaching them skills that they would use all their lives. When he retired he chose to return to the mountains where he grew up and loved waking up each day to see Shut Eye peak out his window. When his wife's father died, he bought the family orange ranch and enjoyed being a farmer for eighteen years.
After retiring, he volunteered and helped with the Caring Veterans program where veterans helped veterans. Several weekends a year they would put on a “Stand Down” and serve meals, followed by dental care, health care, and new clothes for those in need.
Bob is survived by his wife, Diane, his son, David R. Wheeler, (spouse Julie), and his daughter, Karen Durrant, (spouse Nathan), and his brother, Milton Wheeler. Bob has five grandchildren: Eric and Kirk Wheeler and Ethan, Seth and Lucas Durrant.
He will be put to rest at the North Fork Cemetery at a private service with all his family nearby, expressing their love and farewells to him.
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