Roll Call Tribute

Joe Calvin Wheeler 

April 13, 1941 - February 1, 2025 

Joe Calvin Wheeler, 83, of Skellytown, TX, passed away at University Medical Center in Lubbock, TX on Saturday, February 1, 2025. A memorial was held on Sunday. Burial will follow in the Miami Cemetery at a later date.

Joe was born to Alton "Tony" Wheeler and Eula Fay Larson in Canadian, Texas April 13, 1941.

Joe graduated from Canadian High School in 1959 and started college at Texas A&M University. The next summer, he got a job working for the forest service in Arizona and decided to transfer to Arizona State College (now Northern Arizona University) in Flagstaff, AZ. There, he was president of the rodeo club and competed in bareback and saddle bronc riding and bull riding. His love for rodeo never died, and he followed the national pro rodeo standings for the rest of his life.

While at college in Flagstaff, he married his sweetheart, Janell Thompson, on December 27, 1963 in Elfrida, AZ. He graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. He eventually settled with his family in Skellytown, TX, where they have resided since 1975. He retired from Phillips 66 as a welding inspector in 2001.

He was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved to serve others. He was a Boy Scout leader for many years. After retirement, he spent many hours doing family history work and helped others do the same. In his spare time, Joe and his friend Tommie Thornburg spent a lot of time mowing, trimming trees, and general cleanup all over Skellytown.

He is survived by his wife, Janell, of the home; four sons, Judd Wheeler of Pampa; Cody (Katie) Wheeler of Littleton, CO; Blane (Leslie) Wheeler of Buhl, ID; and Bronn (Samantha) Wheeler of Fox River Grove, IL; and two daughters, Devri (Phillip) Conlin of Mertzon, TX and Ambryn (Robert) La Deau of Miami, TX; three sisters, Jean Scissons and Linda Kveton, both of Pampa, TX and Laura Lee Shields of Claremore, OK; 19 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and two more on the way.