Lawrence Emery Wheeler

Larry Wheeler passed away on January 22nd, 2022, after a 2-year battle with lung cancer. He was born on September 15th, 1934, in Faribault, MN to Lawrence and Francis Wheeler. He spent 3 years in the Army as a paratrooper stationed in North Carolina. After finishing his service with the Army, he attended Dunwoody institute. He began his building engineer career at 1st National Bank, moved on to Midwest Federal, then on to the Minneapolis Club, retiring in 1998.

He married Joyce Schoen on October 23, 1959. Together they raised two children in their Minneapolis home where they lived for over 60 years. Lawrence enjoyed cross-country skiing, camping, canoeing, motorcycling, and running, along with most anything outdoors. For over 10 years he vacationed in the boundary waters with his son, brothers, brother-in-law, and nephews. He and Joyce often camped in the boundary waters too. He was a lifelong learner and was innately curious about how things worked. For many years he tinkered with short wave radios and spent time in his retirement building and sailing RC model boats with the Edina Model Yacht Club.

Larry was preceded in death by his father Lawrence Wheeler and mother Francis Weber (Jirele), brother-in law Leonard Pankow and son-in-law Allen Ische. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Cindy Ische (Gary Cayo), Bryan (Jeri) Wheeler, sister Patricia Pankow, brothers Dennis Weber and Ron (Marie) Weber, and four grandchildren: Michael Ische (Kayla Kiel), Aaron Ische (Kristie Kuehn), Alan Wheeler, Emily Wheeler and nieces and nephews.

A memorial celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2022 from 1:00 – 3:00pm at the Hughes Pavilion, Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave., Edina, MN. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Edina Model Yacht Club, Three Rivers Park District or American Cancer Society.

The family would like to thank the staff at Minnesota Oncology and especially Hospice of the Midwest for their loving care of Larry during his last days.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/minneapolis-cremation for the Wheeler family.