James Dale Wheeler

James Dale Wheeler Sr., 69, of Fort Wayne, IN passed away peacefully Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at IU Health Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, IN. Born August 22, 1953, in Fort Wayne, IN, the son of Ellis L. Wheeler, Sr. and Callie Marie Passwater. He attended Elmhurst High School prior to being drafted and was a U.S Army Veteran and proudly served his country from 1972-1978. He is a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne. James spent 40 years of his career at Holsum Bakery where he retired as the Transportation Superintendent in 2013. James was a loving and compassionate husband, father and grandfather devoted to his family and friends. He enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling. He had an infectious smile that would light up a room and was quite the jokester who had the funniest ways of saying things. He was always there if you needed anything, or just wanted to shoot the $h!t (as he would say it). He is survived by his wife, Diana Lynn Wheeler of Fort Wayne, IN; sons, James (Sarah) Wheeler Jr., Christopher Wheeler, Timothy (Sharon) Wheeler all of Fort Wayne, IN; Scott (Jennifer) Wheeler of Leo, IN; mother Callie Marie Passwater of Fort Wayne, IN; brothers, Ellis (Carol) Wheeler Jr. of Cleveland, TN; Bobby (Judy) Wheeler of TN; sister, Vicki (Jim) Racine of Fort Wayne, IN; grandchildren Kayla, Annie, Emma, Hunter, Whitney, Logan, Olivia, Kian, Gracie, Kendall, Ella, Kelsea and Hudson Wheeler; also his dog and loyal companion, Cooper. He was preceded in death by his father, Ellis L. Wheeler Sr., stepfather Jim Passwater, father-in-law Richard Mundt and grandson Nash Austin Wheeler. The family extends their gratitude to the Doctors, Nurses and Staff of the IU Health Simon Cancer Center and the Parkview Cancer Institute. Funeral service will be 11am Thursday February 23, 2023, at Ascension Lutheran Church 8811 St. Joe Road Fort Wayne, IN, with visitation one hour prior. Visitation also from 2-4 and 6-8 pm Wednesday, February 22, 2023, at D.O. McComb and Sons Pine Valley Park Funeral Home 1320 E. Dupont Road Fort Wayne, IN. Burial in Covington Memorial Garden Cemetery. Memorials may be made to IU Health Simon Cancer Center of Indianapolis, IN. To sign the online guestbook go to www.mccombandsons.com