John "Jake" Kenneth Wheeler, Jr.
October 13, 1927 — June 27, 2016
John “Jake” Kenneth Wheeler Jr., 88, of Wilmington, NC, passed away Monday, June 27, 2016 at The Commons at Brightmore in Wilmington.
A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 pm Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Munden Funeral Home Chapel in Morehead City with Rev. Sabrenia Smallwood Moore officiating. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Memorial Park with military honors.
Jake was employed at IBM for 30 years as an industrial engineer where he was involved in the dramatic growth of the company’s footprint in the Research Triangle Park, in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. While at IBM he obtained his Master’s Degree from Syracuse University.
He and his wife Sarah established Neuse Realty in New Bern, specializing in properties in Fairfield Harbor where they lived. They love to travel, seeing sights in their motor home throughout the fifty states. They traveled extensively in Europe, tracing their family genealogy as a hobby that they shared.
Jake loved the water and taking family and friends on boat rides on the Neuse River, the Pamlico Sound, and to Cape Lookout.
Jake enjoyed being with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was a quiet, behind-the-scenes kind of guy. You hardly ever knew he was around, and he loved the challenge of home ownership, always tinkering away making sure everything was working correctly.
Jake is survived by his sons, John J. Wheeler and wife Becky of Wilmington and Walter R. Wheeler of Apex; grandchildren, Bonita Jean Wheeler Medlin, Tracey Lynn Wheeler, Stephanie Denise Wheeler Taylor and husband Michael, John Michael Wheeler and wife Ashlee Ann and Meredith Kendall Wheeler; and great grandchildren; Joseph Gray Medlin, Hunter Elizabeth Medlin, Alexander Kline Mense, Zachary Cooper Mense, Michelle Cartlin Taylor and Sarah Adriance Taylor.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Trollinger Wheeler; and his parents, John Kenneth and Wilba Hummel Wheeler.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 – 3:00 pm Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City.
In lieu of flowers flowers, donations may be made The Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.