Jimmie 'Jim' Wheeler

JIMMIE "JIM" WHEELER

Tiffin

Jimmie "Jim" Wheeler, 83, of Tiffin and Osage Beach, Mo., formerly of West Branch, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

A memorial visitation will be held from

1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch, where a Celebration of Life will be held immediately following at 4 p.m. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Branch Booster Club or an animal shelter of the donor's choice.

Jimmie Lee Wheeler was born Oct. 5, 1937, in Oelwein, Iowa, the son of Roderick and Corrine (Atkinson) Wheeler. He was a graduate of Oelwein High School in the Class of 1955 and attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls from 1955 to 1956. In 1957, he joined the U.S. Army serving until 1958. Following his service to his country, he attended Parsons College receiving his B.A. in 1962. On Dec. 27, 1959, he was united in marriage to Patricia Daniels in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Jim began his teaching career in 1962 with the Mid Prairie School system until 1966, when he moved to West Branch and continued teaching and coaching until his retirement in 1996. Jim enjoyed playing tennis beginning in high school where he placed runner up in the state doubles tournament, and later during his time in the military where he was the post tennis champion continuing through his college years. He had coached high school boys and girls golf, girls softball, girls basketball and Jr. high football. During his coaching career he received many awards and received recognition on the local, state and national level, taking the girls basketball, softball and golf teams to state, as well as taking the boys golf teams to state and winning four consecutive years 1989-1992, Iowa Coach of the year 1993 and 1996, Midwest Coach of the Year 1996 and was finalist for National Coach of the Year 1996, Cedar County Wall of Fame 2010 and inducted into the Iowa Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002. During his time as a teacher, he mentored 26 student teachers and taught drivers education for 26 years, stating he had "driven around the world three times with new drivers." He enjoyed playing golf, his family and was at his grandchildren's events whenever able. Jim served as the announcer for the Winter Special Olympics held in Iowa City as well as West Branch Football. Jim was referred to and known as "the bear" to many. Following his retirement in 1996 Jim and Pat moved to Osage Beach, Missouri where he worked as a substitute teacher for 14 years, also volunteered at Lake Regional Medical Center in Osage Beach serving 5000 hours. He also loved his late dog, Nikki.

He is survived by his wife, Pat of Tiffin; three children, Robin (Tim) Hennes of Oxford, Terri (Mark) Schuchard of Coralville and Chris (Krista) Wheeler of Marion; seven grandchildren, Jordan (Jaymes) McAllister, Maria Hennes, Cole Schuchard, Abbie Schuchard , Lauren Schuchard, Logan (Stefanie) Wheeler and Paige Wheeler; three great-grandchildren, Adeline McAllister, Zoe and Zander White; one brother, Tim (Diane) Wheeler of Jacksonville, Fla.; and brother-in-law, Gerald Assink of Lakeland, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Judy Assink.