John Loring Wheeler

John Loring Wheeler, 74, of Munsonville, died Thursday afternoon, April 21, 2016, at Cheshire Medical Center / Dartmouth Hitchcock Keene with his family by his side following a period of declining health.

He was born in Keene on February 3, 1942, the son of Holland S. and Mura A. (Eastman) Wheeler. He was a 1960 graduate of Keene High School and shortly after graduation enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served as a Medic until his honorable discharge in 1966.

Following his military service, he worked briefly at MPB and then the remainder of his career working as a Toll Testman for New England Telephone and Telephone Company, which later became New England Telephone, NYNEX, and then Verizon. He took early retirement in 1998.

He married Mary R. Morris in a service in Munsonville on February 26, 2005.

As a young man, John joined DeMolay and then became a Free Mason in 1964 in Social Friends Lodge No. 42 in Keene. He was a Past Worshipful Master, received the General John Sullivan Award, served as District Deputy Grand Lecturer and Grand Master, and became a 33rd Degree Mason, and Past Most Wise Master. For the past 10 years, he was on the NH Consistory Committee, was a Past Shrine Club President, and was also involved in the first section unit of Shriners. In addition, he belonged to the local Jerusalem Lodge # 104, as well as the Keene Elks Lodge # 927 and the Gordon Bissell Post # 4 of the American Legion.

He greatly enjoyed traveling with his wife, spending time outside, going hunting and fishing, as well as spending time on Granite Lake out on the boat sailing or just at his home, overlooking the lake.

He is survived by his wife: Mary Wheeler, of Munsonville; his twin daughters: Karen DeMinico and her husband Greg of Surry and Katharine Baird of Keene, Kathy Richards and her husband David of Keene, Heather Eakin of Keene and Joelle Eldredge of Nashua; 5 grandchildren: Jacob DeMinico, Alex Richards, Emily Eakin, Edgar Eldredge, and Thomas Eldredge; a sister: Virginia Lougee and her husband Arland of Marlborough, as well as other extended family.

Services for Mr. Wheeler will be held on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at 10:00 am at the Fletcher Funeral Home, 33 Marlboro St, Keene. Burial will follow at the family lot in the North East Division of Woodland Cemetery, off North Lincoln St. in Keene. Calling Hours, to include both Elks Lodge and Masonic Lodge Memorial Services, will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, from 5:30 until 7:30 pm at the Fletcher Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made in John Wheeler’s name, to the Shriners Hospitals for Children (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org), 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607

Fletcher Funeral Home and Cremation Services, (www.fletcherfuneralhome.com) 33 Marlboro St, Keene has been entrusted with his arrangements.