Wheeler, Karen Kay Hand (1943-2021)

WHEELER, HAND, MEYERS, CHAFIN, ANDERSON, GARZA, WOLF

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 10/6/2021 at 14:02:57

Daily Freeman Journal
Webster City, Iowa
August 9, 2021

Karen “Kaye” Wheeler, 78, formerly of Webster City passed away peacefully at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids , Iowa on August 3, 2021 surrounded by her beloved family.

Karen Kay Hand, daughter of Everett and Evelyn Meyers Hand, was born in Chicago, Illinois during the war on July 1, 1943. Her family returned to Webster City when she was a small child. She received her education in the Webster City Schools and was a member of the Church of Christ in Webster City. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1961. After moving to California and going to school at the Visalia School of Cosmetology, Kaye married the love of her life, Gordon Wheeler. Kaye and Gordon were married for 58 loving years. Kaye worked as a beautician for several years until she became the circulation director for the Long Beach Press Telegram. She was a Girl Scout leader where she discovered her love of teaching.

Kaye and her family moved to Oklahoma to be near her brother Delvin Hand and his family. She worked as a manager of a large craft shop and taught art classes further inspiring her love of all things related to art. Later, she returned to Iowa to be near family. First in Randall, and then in Webster City.

Kaye had a life long love of learning and art. She attended Iowa Central Community College and transferred to Iowa State University where she earned her Bachelors in Fine Arts with Distinction, graduating in the top 2% of the class of 1988, and the top of her class in the College of Design. Kaye worked with Webster City Schools teaching art to elementary and high school students for 15 years. Aside from her dream of teaching art Kaye went to Hawaii with Gordon and her mother for her 50th birthday, another dream come true. Kaye retired to the Charleston, SC area for ten years to be near daughter Lisa. Kaye then moved to Marion, IA to be near daughter Cynthia.

Kaye loved reading, nature, gardening, traveling, shopping, Christmas, but most of all art. She always saw beauty and potential in the world around her. She loved to nurture and teach those around her and was loved by family, friends and her students. She had a deep love for her family, friends and Christ. She was a member of Webster City Carvers and Ft. Dodge Rock Club.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Gordon Wheeler along with their three daughters and spouses, Lisa and Scott Chafin, Cynthia and Eric Anderson and Renea Wheeler and Carol Garza as well as her beloved grandchildren Ben, Marissa and Katherine plus cousin James Wolf and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Kaye was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Evelyn Hand and bother Delvin and sister Brenda. Kaye was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She will be deeply missed.

The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Camp Courageous of Monticello, IA or Miracles in Motion of Swisher, IA.

A graveside service will be held at a date to be determined.