Jim Wheeler

Jim Wheeler, 85, Sullivan, IL, died Tuesday, October 22, 2019, at St. Mary’s Hospital.
Jim was born April 11, 1934, in Decatur, the son of James E. and Nona (Sanders) Wheeler. While living in Greenville, Il., his mother died and Jim moved to Bethany to live with his grandparents, Otis and Clara Wheeler. He married Donna Shank in 1956 and had three sons, Brad, Kris and Derk. Donna died in 1991, after a long illness. Jim married Ann Poland in June 1994.
While a young man, Jim, like his father and grandfather, started a commercial and residential construction company. He, along with his friend attorney Robert M. White, was responsible for the first retail IGA complex and the Quick Plastics commercial building in Sullivan. He also built the education building for the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.
In 1963 Jim joined his father-in-law, Owen Shank, in the road maintenance business in Mattoon. Later he and his sons operated Earl Walker, Inc., a road maintenance business in Sullivan.
Jim was a member of the Moultrie County Merit Commission for 33 years and served on many First United Methodist Church boards. He was appointed to the Sullivan City Council and served as a member of the Vocational Board at the Sullivan High School. He also served on the board of the Sullivan Country Club.
He is survived by his wife Ann, sons Brad (Tammie), Kris (Shelly), and Derk (Nicole Atchison) and grandchildren Ben, Hannah, Jed and Gus. Other survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and George Stall of Summerville, SC, and their daughters Jennifer (Harold) Albo and Janene (Cliff) Keefe; sister-in-law Georgia (Rex) Ashbrook and niece Missa (Michael) Cook. Jim shared a close relationship with Gene Compton of Mattoon.
A memorial service will be 2:00 p.m.,Sunday, October 27, 2019, in the Sullivan First United Methodist Church sanctuary followed by a private family burial.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sullivan Food Bank, Mary’s Weekend Food Bags, or to the Sullivan First United Methodist Church.