James Allan Wheeler

February 23, 1942 - March 15, 2020

James Wheeler, 78, passed away at his home in Hurricane, Utah on March 15, 2020. He is survived by Mimi, his wife of nearly forty years, and five sons: Joe (Katrina), Gerry (Rebecca), Greg (Shelly), Geoff, and Eric. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Alexis (Alexander), Quillan, Morgan, Reilly, Jordan, Aisia, Noah, Kaytlyn, Ashton, Logan, Jaden, Dylan; and two great-grandchildren: Rex and Ryker. Jim has three brothers: Bill, Tom, and Bob. Jim was born on February 23, 1942, in Toledo, Ohio, to his parents, Leslie and Constance. After high school, Jim joined the Navy, spending eight years sailing the oceans on the destroyer USS Fred T. Berry, teaching at Great Lakes Training Center in Chicago, and deploying to Vietnam on the LSD USS Gunston Hall. After being honorably discharged, Jim worked for Ryan Aeronautical in the Philippines. Once stateside, Jim reunited with his old Navy buddy Joe Pedroza, working together at Pacific Bell (AT&T) in San Francisco for several years. Jim then took what became his favorite job in Hawthorne, Nevada, where he met Mimi. After Hawthorne, Jim’s travels commenced again, moving with Mimi to Colorado, Hawaii, Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, Colorado, and finally Utah. During his life, Jim was an avid participant in endurance sports, completing an Ironman triathlon in Kona, as well as many other triathlons, bike races, marathons, and ultramarathons. A memorial service will be scheduled for some time in the not-too-distant future in Hurricane, Utah. Jim will be laid to rest at the Summit City Cemetery in Summit, Utah, with military honors.