Jay Orville Wheeler, 55, of Wetmore, died Thursday, February 5, 2009 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City. He was born October 7, 1953 in Holton, KS, the son of Jack Willis and Betty Arlene Lowry Wheeler. He graduated from Jackson Heights High School in 1971.
Jay worked at Goodyear in Topeka for 7 years while farming with his father. He later began farming full time for the next 30 years on his farm near Wetmore. For the past 7 years, Jay was a crop adjuster and crop insurance agent with Farm Bureau Insurance.
Jay married Kathleen Susan Haverkamp on July 29, 1972 at St. James Catholic Church in Wetmore. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Kathy; their children, Shannon Wheeler and his wife Rebekah, Jason Wheeler and his wife Michelle, Jaime Zirkle and her husband John; grandchildren Skyler, Ethan, Justine, Brayden, Annika and Allyson; mother, Betty Wheeler; brother, Dennis and Denise Wheeler and family; and a sister, Cindy and Tom Ross and family. He was also survived by many loving family members including: Avitus and Elda Haverkamp, Lori and Bruce Elliott and family, Gail and Jerry Hermesch and family, Chris and Tracey Haverkamp and family
The Rosary will be recited at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, February 8, 2009 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton with visitation to follow. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 9, 2009 at St. James Catholic Church in Wetmore. Burial will be in the Netawaka Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Jay Wheeler Memorial Fund c/o Mercer Funeral Home, Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.