Jean Mary Wheeler

Jean Mary Rodekohr was born October 28, 1935, on a farm in Meadow Grove, Nebraska, to Carl and Lola Rodekohr during a bad snowstorm. She was their fourth child and only girl.

The family moved to Norfolk, Nebraska for two years then in June 1946 to Cheyenne, Wyoming where she attended Clark School in 5th and 6th grades. The family joined Trinity Lutheran Church, and she was confirmed April 1950. She enjoyed participating in sports in school, (swimming, basketball, and rifle team) and was a chorus member in high school musicals. She rode her bicycle to Mc Cormick Jr. High. Her first job was at Dodd’s drug store, then at the Owl Inn where she made Wing Dings a milk shake but made from soft ice cream.

She then went to work at The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company in January 1954 as a stenographer and graduated with her class in May 1954 from Cheyenne High School. The Alvin Wheeler family moved in next door, and she dated their son Lewis when he came home on the weekends from the University of Wyoming. They married on August 11, 1957. In May 1964, they adopted daughter, Robin, and in August 1966, they adopted a son, Will. Jean continued working part-time for the telephone company for 15 years while raising the children.

Jean loved horseback riding and belonged to three equestrian groups Foxy Trotters, Golden Spikes and Ghost Riders performing regularly for Cheyenne Frontier Days parades and rodeo grand entries. In 1990, she rode in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California to celebrate Wyoming’s centennial.

Jean’s love for music was lifelong. She and her father Carl were active members of the Trinity Lutheran Church choir, and they spent many years performing duets for funeral services. She was a member of Ann Kauffman’s City Sounds for 23 years. The group performed many musicals and civic events.

She was the family historian and spent endless hours researching and compiling ancestry to share with family members and creating photo albums to preserve memories. Her love for research was also the incentive for her to spend many hours gathering information for the Trinity Lutheran Church and School 125th Anniversary Commemoration Book.

Jean was an avid bridge player and as a member of Military Officers’ Wives Club for many years, she enjoyed playing bridge with several members of the club.

She loved her many horses and dogs, cheering for the Colorado Rockies, snow skiing and traveling both domestic and abroad.

Lewis Wheeler passed away unexpectedly in February 1996. She continued managing their rental properties and volunteering. She is survived by her two children Robin and Will Wheeler, grandson Matthew Schreiner, wife Laura and granddaughter Raelee Kuskie.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Richard, Keith and Carl Rodekohr.

Memorial services will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 22 at Trinity Lutheran Church followed by interment services at Beth El Cemetery. Lunch and reception will be hosted at the Trinity Lutheran Church Hall following interment. The viewing will be Monday, September 21, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at Wiederspahn-Radomskiy Chapel of the Chimes.

Friends who wish may contribute to Trinity Lutheran Church and School 111 E. 22nd St., Cheyenne, WY 82001

To send the family condolences, please visit www.wrcfuneral.com