John Marshall Wheeler

John Marshall Wheeler, 80, passed away with his family by his side on January 7, 2019 at CVPH Plattsburgh. Born in Troy, New York on April 7, 1938 to Marshall and Elsie (Thorton Gibson) Wheeler. He is survived by his wife, Nancy T. Wheeler, his children, John Marshall, Jr. and Janice Anne Wheeler, his grandson Ryan Kerner, and his two sisters, Carol (Pat) DeMilia and Anne (Judy) Laffan. His beautiful clear blue eyes and captivating smile will be missed forever.

John graduated from Lansingburgh High School. He received a Bachelor of Science and Masters Degrees from Oswego, 1961 and 1967, and a Doctorate of Education from the University of Buffalo in 1973. He was passionate about education, making his way from teaching Industrial Arts to Superintendent of Schools through his career.

John influenced lives far and wide, having careers in both New York and New Hampshire. He loved working with his hands and taught Industrial Arts in Corning from 1961-1968, was Jr-Sr High School Principal in Lake Placid from 1970-72, and Superintendent of Schools in North Creek, Fabius-Pompey and Dryden New York. John and Nancy then moved to New Hampshire where he was Superintendent of Jaffrey-Rindge School District from 1989 until his retirement in 1994. He worked for Franklin-Pierce College as a Supervisor of Student Teachers for the first four years of his retirement, which he enjoyed very much.

His community involvement is an incredibly long dedicated list; Rotary, Kiwanis , Boy Scouts, Fish and Game, Sertoma, Planning Boards and Pancake Breakfasts; his favorite perhaps volunteering as an ambulance driver during his retirement in Hamilton County. He was a renowned, reliable thinker and could always be counted on to help a fellow human being.

John and Nancy retired to the summer camp he and his father built on Piseco Lake in the 1950’s, a place very dear to his heart. John’s cremains will be buried, at his request near his parents in Higgins Bay, New York on Piseco Lake in a spring ceremony. This is appropriate as his heart was, throughout his life, in the Adirondacks; he took care of lean-tos and explored whenever the opportunity arose. He enjoyed hunting, deer here and elk in Colorado. He was ‘One-shot Wheeler.’

Arrangements have been made through Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh, New York.
518 561-3980 Online condolences may be offered at www.brownfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude's Childrens Hospital, Wound Warrior Project or a tree could be planted.