Michael Wheeler
courtesy photo
Michael Wheeler
PABLO — Michael E. Wheeler, 52, of Pablo, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on April 2, while hiking in the Pistol Creek area near St. Ignatius. Mike was born in St. Ignatius on April 6, 1965, to Rosalie and John B. Wheeler. He was born 11 months after his big brother and best friend, John.
Mike grew up at the foot of the Mission Mountains in St. Ignatius with his parents and siblings. His aunts, uncles, and cousins (the Wheeler, Weingart, and Orr families) lived just down the road where the kids had a beaten path between the houses. John, Mike, and cousin, Steve were inseparable and had many happy memories growing up together.
Mike attended school in St. Ignatius and graduated in 1983. Mike was athletic all through school and excelled in wrestling and football. He was an avid outdoorsman. His passion were his boys, grandkids, hunting and fishing, with a little logging in between to pay for it all.
If Mike wasn’t out hunting for deer and elk, he was hunting for horns, mushrooms, huckleberries, or you would find him fishing on the Flathead River. He also enjoyed riding his Harley and going to concerts. Mike passed away doing what he loved to do most – spending time in the mountains and was with one of his sons. Mike was not lost, but missing due to what happened. He knew the mountains like the back of his hand. He was where he loved to be, doing what he loved to do with his dog by his side. Heaven has welcomed a very special man and we know his mom and dad were there to greet him with open and loving arms.
Mike lived each day to the fullest and he was taken from us far too soon. He especially enjoyed spending time with his boys, nieces and nephews, his brothers, sister, and his favorite dog, Archer. He treated his kids’ friends like they were his own. Mike did not know a stranger. He was one of the kindest people you would ever know and rarely had a cross word to say about anyone. Mike was easy going and liked the simple life. He always had a smile. Mike was the greatest dad, brother, papa, uncle, mentor, and friend. He did everything with his boys. He went to wrestling tournaments, school activities, motocross racing, swimming and floating, fishing and hunting … anything that was outdoors.
Mike married Barb Crowell July 23, 1990, and from that marriage they had two sons, Colton and Tyler. Although they divorced after several years, they’ve remained friends throughout the years.
Mike grew up in a hardworking logging family and worked for his dad right out of high school from 1983 to 1992. He then worked as a logging equipment operator for his uncle, Dennis Wheeler, from 1992 to 2005.
Mike was diagnosed with leukemia in 2005. Mike was a fighter … tough as nails. He survived cancer and had been in remission since 2006. During this time, Mike was a single dad and moved in with his brother, John and his family, to help him with his recovery. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Tammie Washburn who was his caregiver while he spent many months in Salt Lake City, Utah, undergoing a bone marrow transplant, which subsequently, saved Mike’s life and gave him more precious time on this earth to be with his sons. You can’t imagine the pain and suffering he went through. He told John that his only wish was to live long enough to see his sons grow up. Thankfully, he was able to do that and raised his boys to be fine young men.
After Mike’s recovery, he went back to work, against doctor’s orders, and worked for Ronan Power Products, Summit Energy and Harris Construction in North Dakota from 2008 to 2011. Mike went back to logging and was working as a logging equipment operator for Salmon River Wood Products from 2011 to present.
Mike is survived by his three sons, Kevin (Lacie) of Missoula, Colton (Sarah) of Ronan, and Tyler (McKenzie) of Pablo; his brothers, John (Cindy) of Arlee, Shane Wheeler of Ashland; his sister, Jolene Lilly (Alan) of Ronan; his brother/cousin, Dale (Lisa) Wheeler of St. Ignatius and Steve Weingart of Spokane, Washington; his sister/cousin, Elly Woll (Steve) of Ronan; his granddaughter and the apple of his eye, Layla; his grandson, John; his stepmother, Jane Wheeler of Chiniak, Alaska; his aunts, Jeannie ( J.C.) of Reardon, Washington, Mary Ann Weingart (Bob) of St. Ignatius, Connie Sutten (Galen) of Roseburg, Oregon; his uncles, Tom Wheeler and Dennis Wheeler of St. Ignatius, and Dennis Reum of Ronan; his nieces and nephews, Courtney, Cote, Ally, Emma, AJ, Aurora, Kimberly, Charles, and other cousins; his great nieces/nephews, too numerous to name; and last but not least, his favorite dog, Archer.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, John and Rosalie Wheeler; his stepmother, Audrey Snodgrass-Wheeler; his grandparents, Tom and Edna Wheeler and Melvin and Elizabeth Reum; his aunts, Donna Reum and Delores (DeeDee) Reum; his uncle, Kenneth Reum; his uncle Ike and aunt June Orr; and his aunt, Gaye Wheeler.
The Wheeler family would like to thank the many family members and numerous friends and volunteers who dropped everything to assist in the search, especially Mickey Cheff, Calvin Shepard and the Freeman boys who helped Tyler and Colton find their dad. We would like to thank Lake County Search and Rescue, Lake County Sheriff ’s Department, Two Bear Helicopter Rescue, and Tribal Fish and Game Wardens who also assisted in the search. Your kindness and support will be forever appreciated.
Services have been held.
