1914
Burrell
2009
Burrell Acquilla Wheeler
July 12, 1914 — January 20, 2009
Burrell Acquilla Wheeler, 94, of Lynn Center, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 at Hillcrest Nursing Home, Geneseo, IL.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Swedona Lutheran Church.
Burial will be at Swedona Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd. in Orion. Memorials may be given to Hillcrest Nursing Home or Swedona Lutheran Church.
Burrell was born July 12, 1914 in Durham, Missouri, to William Jessie Theodore and Mary Ann (Franks) Wheeler. He graduated from Durham High School and was the valedictorian of his class. He hitchhiked to Illinois in 1936 during the depression to find work. He married Arline Elizabeth Seabloom Feb.5, 1944. They were married for 58 years until Arline's death on Feb. 14, 2002.
Burrell was a lifetime farmer. He and Arline bought their farm in 1951. He worked for a time at Admiral in Galesburg. He retired from farming in 1981. Burrell's memberships included Swedona Lutheran Church where he was a member for 64 years, Edwards River Coon Hunter's Club, Swedona Church Men's Club, Farm Bureau, National Farmers Organization, Hardly Able Fishing Club and several 500-card clubs.
He and Arline loved blue grass music, traveled extensively to many blue grass festivals, traveled throughout the United States and enjoyed camping. Most of all he enjoyed family and friends.
He was a great dad, grandpa and friend and he will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Survivors and spouses include his son, Michael (Mary) Wheeler, Coal Valley; daughters Carol (Jeffrey) Andree, Kissimmee, FL., and Becky (Chick) Pettifer, Coal Valley; 10 grandchildren, Kent (Melanie) Wheeler, Robert Wheeler and friend Dorrine, Karla (Bill) Pitzen, Candace (Mike) Hebert, Jacqueline (Paul) Modlin, Debra Andree ( Matt Snell), Adam (Paula) Pettifer, Aaron (Amy) Pettifer, Jessie (Terry) Lecander and Alex Pettifer, 16 great-grandchildren, three step great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
His surviving in-laws include: John Seabloom, Arland (Marilyn) Seabloom, Elaine (Stan) Sward, Janet Larson, Ted (Liz) Seabloom and Ruth (Bill) Vermost.
He was preceded in death by his wife, mother and father, mother and father-in-law Arland and Martha Seabloom, siblings and spouses Goldie (Steven) Abell, Otis (Virginia) Wheeler, Iona (Ray) Holzgrafe and in-laws Kathryn (Harold) Underwood, Genevieve (Ken) Swanson, Patricia Seabloom, and Donald Larson.
Online condolences may be expressed to Burrell's family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahlmortuary.com..
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Swedona Lutheran Church.
Burial will be at Swedona Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at Kirk, Huggins & Esterdahl Funeral Home, Ltd. in Orion. Memorials may be given to Hillcrest Nursing Home or Swedona Lutheran Church.
Burrell was born July 12, 1914 in Durham, Missouri, to William Jessie Theodore and Mary Ann (Franks) Wheeler. He graduated from Durham High School and was the valedictorian of his class. He hitchhiked to Illinois in 1936 during the depression to find work. He married Arline Elizabeth Seabloom Feb.5, 1944. They were married for 58 years until Arline's death on Feb. 14, 2002.
Burrell was a lifetime farmer. He and Arline bought their farm in 1951. He worked for a time at Admiral in Galesburg. He retired from farming in 1981. Burrell's memberships included Swedona Lutheran Church where he was a member for 64 years, Edwards River Coon Hunter's Club, Swedona Church Men's Club, Farm Bureau, National Farmers Organization, Hardly Able Fishing Club and several 500-card clubs.
He and Arline loved blue grass music, traveled extensively to many blue grass festivals, traveled throughout the United States and enjoyed camping. Most of all he enjoyed family and friends.
He was a great dad, grandpa and friend and he will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Survivors and spouses include his son, Michael (Mary) Wheeler, Coal Valley; daughters Carol (Jeffrey) Andree, Kissimmee, FL., and Becky (Chick) Pettifer, Coal Valley; 10 grandchildren, Kent (Melanie) Wheeler, Robert Wheeler and friend Dorrine, Karla (Bill) Pitzen, Candace (Mike) Hebert, Jacqueline (Paul) Modlin, Debra Andree ( Matt Snell), Adam (Paula) Pettifer, Aaron (Amy) Pettifer, Jessie (Terry) Lecander and Alex Pettifer, 16 great-grandchildren, three step great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
His surviving in-laws include: John Seabloom, Arland (Marilyn) Seabloom, Elaine (Stan) Sward, Janet Larson, Ted (Liz) Seabloom and Ruth (Bill) Vermost.
He was preceded in death by his wife, mother and father, mother and father-in-law Arland and Martha Seabloom, siblings and spouses Goldie (Steven) Abell, Otis (Virginia) Wheeler, Iona (Ray) Holzgrafe and in-laws Kathryn (Harold) Underwood, Genevieve (Ken) Swanson, Patricia Seabloom, and Donald Larson.
Online condolences may be expressed to Burrell's family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahlmortuary.com..
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