Mr. John E. (Jack) Wheeler, Jr., died Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 at the Lawrence General Hospital after a short illness. A lifelong resident of Lawrence, Mr. Wheeler was born on November 4, 1925 the son of the late J. Edward and Mary R. (Killeen) Wheeler. He was educated at Saint Mary's Grammar School and graduated from Lawrence High School, Class of 1943. He served in the Army Air Forces for two years. He flew three missions in Europe during World War II in B-17 planes as an Airplane Armorer Gunner where he manned the chin turret gun. Upon his return to Lawrence, he began working at the former Lawrence Gas and Electric Company as a service technician and later moved to Massachusetts Electric Company where he worked as a Pole Inspector. He retired from Massachusetts Electric Company in 1991 after more than 45 years of service. Mr. Wheeler was a former member of Saint Augustine Parish in Lawrence where he served as an usher and parish volunteer. In 1967 he was a founding member of Saint Augustine's Volleyball League where he served as secretary and treasure of the league for many years. He is presently a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Methuen. He enjoyed baseball, hockey, and daily walks at Riverside Park in Methuen and Salisbury Beach.
He is survived by his wife Teresa Norton Wheeler, a daughter, Mary Anne Wheeler both of Lawrence, MA. His Sister-in-Law Marie E. Pekarski and her husband William also of Lawrence, MA. One niece Anne Cook and her husband James of Salem, NH and their children Sarah Cook and Siobhan and her husband Robert Atwood. Two nephews, William Pekarski and his daughter Alethea of Forestdale, MA; David Pekarski and his wife Tracy (Gosselin) and their children, Gregory, Victoria and William of Methuen. He is also survived by cousins Mrs. Vincent P. (Genevieve) Foley, Sr. and family of Andover, MA, William A. Coyle and his wife Donna and family of Plaistow, NH and Thomas P. Coyle and his wife Ann and Family of Salem, NH. He was the uncle of the late Christopher J. Pekarski and cousin of the late William T. Morin and Dr. Thomas F. Killeen.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, July 23rd, 2007 at 11:00 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Saint Augustine's Chapel, 128 Ames Street, Lawrence, MA.
Burial will follow at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence, MA.
Family and Friends are invited to attend calling hours on Sunday, July 22nd, 2007 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA. For condolences please go to www.breenfuneralhome.com.
Memorial Contributions can be made to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, 22 Plymouth Street, Methuen, MA 01844.