Tribute

Grant Orville Wheeler passed way suddenly and tragically on Thursday June 4, 2015 at the age of 81.

Survived by his wife Jean Wheeler of 56 years , Daughters: Tammy Barnett( Fred), Kim McDivitt( Brian) and Son: Chad Wheeler (Jen).  His most loved and cherished grandchildren, Lauren and Rochelle Barnett, Jordan, Karmen and Danielle McDivitt and James Wheeler who were the pride of his life.

Also survived by his sisters, Frances Itterman and family:  Rebecca and Corey, and Gail Berish and family: Michael, Nancy, Kathy and Robert whom he was very close to.

Also survived by his wife Jean’s Family;  Loraine and Alan Wagner, John Regner , Christian Regner and Elsie Wormsbecker and families.

Grant was predeceased by his son Darren, his parents Bob and Dixie Wheeler and his in-Laws, Christian and Rose Regner.

Grant graduated from Southern Okanagan Secondary School in 1952 and pursued a career in the Canadian Air force, where he became an aircraft mechanic and traveled extensively in North and Central America with the Air Force.

Grant then moved back to Oliver to manage the Orchard Café and Billiards with his Parents Bob and Dixie Wheeler which was enjoyed by many still around to tell stories of the Wheelers diner and pool hall.

Grant purchased the BA gas station in Oliver which later became Gulf Oil and also subsequently purchased the Gulf 0il Bulk plant and continued working in the fuel industry until his retirement.

Grant also was Alderman in the Village of Oliver for many terms where he worked extensively on the Water and Sewer Project for the Municipality and was a board member for years at the Oliver Credit Union.

Grant then worked and volunteered his time in areas that were interests and hobbies of his, hockey, his grand kids and the latest being Fairview golf course.

Grant and Jean still travelled regularly to Virginia to see their daughter Tammy and granddaughters and to Saskatoon to see Jeans sister, Elsie.

Grant was well known and respected within the community and was outgoing and very social.  He actively volunteered at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Oliver Minor Hockey in the Oliver area.

Grant coached his son Chad’s hockey team for years, making lifelong friends from all the hockey players he coached and then also coached his grandson, James hockey team, becoming a regular, well known, part of the team.

Grant was an exceptional athlete for his age and remained active in hockey right up until his passing, playing hockey 3 times a week with the Penticton senior’s team and also refereeing, at times with his grandson James. 

Grants outstanding athletic abilities started when he played backyard hockey with Gordie Howe growing up in Saskatoon and continued throughout his life, winning at the BC Summer Games a gold metal as a teenager in swimming and again in the Senior BC Summer games and then again in the BC winter games winning a gold, silver and bronze medal in speed skating.

Grant loved old cars and motorcycles as anyone who has been at his house has seen his 1953 Hudson, his 1977 Goldwing and at one time owned a 1963 Riviera that his daughter Tammy used as a wedding car.

Grant was always just a phone call away to anyone that needed him and his outgoing and social personality touched many that he met.

Grant will be greatly missed by all that knew him.

A celebration of Grants Life will be held at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oliver, Friday, June 26th at 1pm.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to “ Spirit of the Game Society”  http://sotgsociety.com or St Paul’s Lutheran church in Oliver.