Norman Wheeler

Sibley, IA     Norman Wheeler age 85 of Sibley, IA died Friday, March 24, 2017 at the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA.     Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday April 8th, 2017 at 2:00 PM at United Church of Christ in Sibley with Rev. Larry Laskie officiating. Private family burial will take place at a later date.        Visitation will also be April 8th from 12:30 until time of service at the church in Sibley.     Family would like memorials directed to the Sibley Ambulance and Rescue Service.     Norman Jacob Wheeler was born March 5, 1932, in Sibley, Iowa. He was the son of Frederick and Pearl (Ellerbroek) Wheeler. He grew up on the family farm in East Holman Township and attended Sibley schools, graduating from Sibley High School in 1950. He then enrolled at Iowa State Teacher’s College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls, IA, where he began studying fine arts. At UNI, he met Carol Bensch of Decorah, IA. Norm left college in 1953 to join the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant serving as a navigator on search and rescue missions.  Norm and Carol were married on July 16, 1955. Following a brief residence in Riverside, California, the couple moved to Kobe, Japan, where Norm finished out his Air Force service. They returned to the Sibley area in 1957 and he resumed farming with his father and brother.        Norm and Carol welcomed a son, Jay, in 1960 and a daughter, Jill, in 1964. In 1968, he enrolled at Mankato State University where he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts. He student taught at Worthington Community College before returning to the farm in 1969. In the 1970s, he formed and operated a successful marble wall paneling business with longtime friend and business partner Elmer Heeren.  In addition to farming, Norm was a field representative for the National Farmers Organization, a sales person for the Golden Shopper, Northwest Iowa Review, Davis Typewriter and KARR Products. Following retirement, he and wife Carol were able to travel and visit friends and family. Their adventures included trips to Australia, Hawaii, Alaska and around the continental United States.        “Storman’ Norman” as he was known, had a unique sense of humor and loved to laugh, especially at the ironies of everyday life. He loved to visit with and meet new people, and enjoyed sharing his insights with others. He was steadfastly supportive of his children and family, and was always eager to help with advice and counsel. A talented handyman, he was naturally curious and engaging, and enjoyed learning new things, solving a variety of problems and entertaining his grandchildren with humorous drawings.        He is survived by longtime companion and partner, Sandra Kruger of Sibley; son Jay, daughter-in-law Brenda and grandchildren Jacob, Katie, and Justin of Granger, IA; and daughter Jill, son-in-law Jim Gresham, and granddaughter Anna Libra of Plymouth, MN.        He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 51 years, Carol, and his older brother, Edward.