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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Wheeler, Veta 'Fern'
Veta “Fern” Wheeler, 90, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, at the Winslow House Care Center, Marion. Services: 1 p.m. Friday, Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, by the Rev. Dennis Sackett. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Private burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include one daughter, Judith (Del) Boardman of Walker; four grandchildren, Lori (Kevin) Morgan of Marion, Kelley Cooney of Marion, Kerry (Racquel) Miller of Cedar Rapids, and Heather Miller of Cedar Rapids; eight great-grandchildren, Kaylin, Joseph, Casey, Cody, Kyle, Tavian, Camryn and Brooklyne; one sister, Zelma O'Neal of Cedar Rapids; and several nephews and special nieces who lovingly called her “Auntie Mom.”
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Dixie Ray; five sisters; and four brothers.
Fern was born May 22, 1919, the daughter of Calvin and Mary (Landes) Longfellow, in Cainsville, Mo. She married Mark Elzo Wheeler on April 15, 1939, in Vinton. Fern attended Prairie Creek Church in Vinton.
She will best be remembered for her philosophy that “back door guests were the best” and that “laughter is the best medicine.”
The family would like the extend a special “Thank You” to the loving staff at Winslow House Care Center in Marion, and St. Luke's Hospice, for all of the special care that was given to Fern.
A memorial fund as been established in Fern's Memory.
Please sign the online guest book for Fern at under obituaries.

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