Vera Wheeler, 87

Vera M. Wheeler, age 87, of River Falls, Wis., died on Saturday, Oct. 13, at United Hospital in St. Paul following a stroke.

She was born Aug. 29, 1925, in Parkersburg, W. Va., to Boyd and Grace (Baker) Petty. She graduated from Oberlin (Ohio) High School in 1943. She married Huber Wheeler in 1950. They spent their early married years in Ohio before moving to Madison, Wis., in 1956. In 1974, they moved to rural River Falls, Wis., where Vera assisted her husband in commercial beekeeping. After arriving in River Falls, she served for many years as a volunteer at the Fish Clothing Room, was an active member in the Pierce County Beekeepers Association (working the booth at the Pierce County Fair numerous times), enjoyed playing cards with friends, loved to read books and was always ready to help her neighbors with a variety of homemaking projects. Vera and Huber also spent many hours traveling throughout the country and Western Wisconsin.

Survivors include her husband, Huber; sons, John (Claire) of Palm Springs, Calif., Gregg (Joan) of Eau Claire, Wis.; grandchildren, Caleb Wheeler of Eau Claire, Wis., Emmaline (Kevin Hoyt) Wheeler of Altoona, Wis.; sister-in-law Jackie Petty of Parkersburg, W. Va.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Robert, Richard, and Nancy; in-laws, Clyde and Iona Wheeler; and sister-in-law, Wilda and Charles Collier.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Bakken-Young Funeral Home in River Falls. Visitation will also be Saturday, Nov. 3, from 10-11 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the River Falls Public Library.

Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of River Falls.

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