In loving memory ~
Larry Duane Wheeler was a loving husband, dad and papa. He passed away surrounded by his family on June 8th, 2023.
Larry was the 4th of 5 children born to Florence and Truman Wheeler on October 8th, 1940 in Woodlands, Manitoba. The family moved to Chemainus when he was one and he continued to reside there for 81 years until his passing. He attended elementary school in Chemainus and then finished high school in Ladysmith. While in high school, he enjoyed track and field where he excelled in running. At the age of 17, tragedy struck the family when his father died in an accident. Due to his father's passing, his two older brothers and him were left to run the garbage disposal business. In these days, before modern waste disposal vehicles, they loaded the garbage by picking up steel drums from the road and hand lifting it over and into the back of the dump truck. After this business was taken over by the municipality, Larry and his brother started the 'Wheeler Brother's Trucking' business. They eventually acquired more logging trucks and Larry branched out on his own to start 'Larry Wheeler Trucking'. He met his wife, Mary-Lou Wheeler (nee Sketchley), when his younger sister brought her over for dinner at the family house. They dated for a few years and married on June 18, 1965. The next year they welcomed their first child, Vern Larry and then two years later, their daughter Pamela Marie.
Throughout Larry's life he enjoyed bowling, fishing, playing cards, watching tennis, seaside family picnics, working in his shop, camping and eating his wife's baking. He had an amazing mechanical mind and accompanied with his patience; he could fix anything. His children and grandchildren always counted on dad/papa being able to fix toys, cars, etc.
Larry helped look after his grandchildren from driving them to lessons and school, teaching them how to play cards and instilling the love of all things sweet!
Larry is predeceased by his wife, Mary-Lou on December 20, 2018. He leaves behind his children: Vern (Linda) Wheeler, Pamela (Steve) Littlejohn and grandchildren: Joshua and Jazmin Wheeler
The family would like to thank Dr. Dan Philippson for his wonderful care over the years. He always went above and beyond to help Larry, especially in the last few months of his life.
Sands of DuncanAdditional Photo(s):
