Edna Jean Wheeler's Obituary
Edna Jean Wheeler, 83, of Fort Myers, Florida passed away peacefully on November 14, 2019 at Hope Healthcare. She is predeceased by her parents, Edward and Catherine Trenkamp and her loving husband of 61 years, Gary Wheeler of Fort Myers.Edna Jean was the consummate wife, mother, grandma and great grandma as well as a warm friend and hostess to all that visited her home.Edna Jean is survived by her four children Kevin, Debbie (Lambert), Gary, and Lori (Ruby) all from Fort Myers, nine grandkids, seven great-grandkids, sister Rosemary (Sowa) and cousin George (Trenkamp).Born in Speers Memorial Hospital in Dayton, Kentucky on January 30, 1936 she moved to sunny Southwest Florida along with sister Rosemary at the ripe old age of 6 months. Their Daddy owned the Sunoco station in downtown Fort Myers until he went to work for Dr. Charles F. Burgess, founder of C. F. Burgess Laboratories, prior to the outbreak of World War II.The family moved to Burgess Island (also known as Little Bokeelia island) where their Daddy was the Doctor’s research assistant (smokescreens for ships, better flotation for Mae Wests and much more), caretaker, driver and bodyguard. They lived on the island despite government admonitions to leave because “German spies are coming ashore by U-boat”. The two little girls dressed up their cats instead of dolls, danced, played jacks and pick-up sticks and dodged the occasional cascade of spent shell casings that rained down from the fighters and bombers flying training missions overhead.One 4th of July while living on the island, their Daddy built a mock-up Japanese Fleet for the girls to shoot .22’s at from the dock. The ships that survived the girls’ onslaught were sent to the bottom by way of black powder triggered by plumber’s candles.After World War II the family moved to Page Park in south Fort Myers, living in an Army Air Corps barracks their parents converted to a comfortable, inviting home. Edna Jean enjoyed flying U-control stunt and combat model airplanes, combat kites (cutting your opponent’s string using your own kite string coated with sand), more dancing and working as an operator for the telephone company. She graduated in 1953 from Fort Myers High which was “the new school in town”.The mother of her future husband, Bonny Wheeler, was working at the phone company at the same time as Edna Jean. She promoted the blind date with her handsome son, setting in motion a romance that lasted until the day of her passing, some 6 years after her loving husband departed this Earth. Gary and Edna Jean maintained the most steadfast commitment to each other, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.Gary insisted Edna Jean quit the phone company to be a stay-at-home mom. It was a decision never once regretted and proved to be of enormous benefit to their kids. Edna Jean kept their home in the Villas in a state of perpetual open house. It was the favorite hangout for her kids and their friends. It remained the favorite hangout for her kids and the subsequent two generations until she left us to be with her patiently waiting Husband Gary.Edna Jean decided to return to the workforce to put son Kevin through college and ended up enjoying it so much she remained until her retirement. At Jan Crystal she manufactured crystals for radio sets, a painstaking process requiring tremendous focus and attention to detail. While at Jan’s, Edna Jean made many a lifelong friend doubtless contributing greatly to her desire to remain there for all those years.One of Edna Jean’s greatest joys was entertaining and feeding her family on birthdays, holidays or just any reason for the Wheeler Family to get together for a party. She also enjoyed spending time on her orchids and involvement in The Florida West Coast Orchid Society. Edna Jean had over 3000 hours of volunteer service for Lee Health making countless pipe cleaner butterflies, paper flowers and stuffed animals to provide a little bit of comfort to the hospitals’ patients, families and friends.Edna Jean will be missed by all that knew and loved her, but we should take heart in knowing she is exactly where she wanted to be; with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and her cherished husband Gary for all Eternity. May Edna Jean rest in peace.A Funeral Service for Edna Jean will be celebrated by Father Oliver Toner of Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, November 23, 2019 inside the Chapel at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555. Friends will be received for Visitation for two hours preceding this ceremony beginning at 10:00 AM also inside the funeral home chapel. Edna Jean will thereafter be laid to rest at Memorial Gardens Cemetery alongside her departed husband Gary inside the Mausoleum located adjacent to the Chapel of Light. This committal service will be private and shall take place at an undisclosed time.A Celebration of Life will be held immediately following the services at Leopardi’s Italian Restaurant, 13851 South Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers (Adjacent to Barnes & Noble/Target Plaza). A buffet lunch will be served.To share a story or photo, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time please visit Edna Jean’s memorial webpage located at www,fortmyersmemorial.com and sign her guestbook.
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