WHEELER, Thomas E. (1943-2016)

WHEELER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/2/2017 at 11:07:57

Thomas E. Wheeler
(September 7, 1943 - November 4, 2016)

The Reverend Thomas E. Wheeler passed away November 4, 2016 at Taylor House, hospice respite, in Des Moines, Iowa after a long battle with cancer. Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, November 10 at the Indianola First Baptist Church where the family will receive friends one hour prior to services on Thursday.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Jo Wheeler , three brothers, Larry Wheeler (Eleanor) of Davison, Michigan, Fred Wheeler (Joyce) of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Richard Wheeler or Owosso, Michigan and a host of nieces and nephews. Tom was born September 7, 1943 to Kenneth and Avis (Caryl) Wheeler in Davison, Michigan. At the age of eight he accepted his Lord and Savior at First Baptist Church, Davison, Michigan. During a revival service which featured Rev. Singpield, a chalk artist. From that time on, Tom had an interest in chalk art and developed his talent while in college, and continued to use chalk art as a ministry while serving many churches throughout the years. At an early age, Tom taught Sunday School, served as a deacon in his church, and state president of the Baptist Youth Fellowship in Michigan. After high school graduation he attended Judson University in Elgin, Illinois. While at Judson, he felt the call to fulltime pastoral ministry. Tom married Nancy Jo Vance in 1966. After they graduated from Judson in 1967 they traveled to Covina, California where Tom attended the American Baptist Seminary of the West, receiving his Masters of Divinity in 1971. His first full time ministry was at First Baptist Church, Knoxville, Iowa. While in Iowa, fourteen years, he was the pastor at two churches, served as camping administrator for the region Mid-American Baptist Churches, and was involved in community service organizations.
After moving to Colorado, in 1985, he ministered there twenty-five years pastoring four churches, served on the region board, involved in community organizations, and was a police chaplain during that time, as well. In 2008, Tom accepted a call to return to Knoxville, Iowa to serve there again for a few years before retirement. He also served two churches as interim minister. In 2015, he accepted the call to be a part-time pastor at First Baptist Church, Atlantic, Iowa until his health caused him to retire, for a second time.
Tom was a dedicated minister who believed in sharing his faith through national and international ministries. He was a mission trip leader, taking youth and adults to Haiti, Nevada, Montana, California, and Mexico. Tom and Nancy were also foster parents to several children of various ages. They felt very blessed to have had many children and youth as part of their lives because of the opportunity of ministry. Memorials may be given to the Indianola First Baptist Church in Tom’s memory. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, [http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]