William Jackson “Jack’ Wheatley, 98, of Mount Carmel, Illinois, passed away on Monday, July 30, 2018, at his home surrounded by family.
He was born July 6, 1920, in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Elmer and Kathryn (Stroh) Wheatley.
Jack graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1937. He married Alberta Wilkinson on August 6, 1940, in Orio, Illinois. Jack proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946. He worked for Flintkote as an electrician for thirty plus years until their closing. Jack also farmed soy beans, corn, wheat and raised farm animals over the years. He loved to piddle. During his piddling he would make things for his family or fix things for them. His wife Alberta had a passion for humming birds. After her death Jack took on this passion. He fed the birds daily and if the feeder was empty the birds would peck on the window to remind him. He said the birds showed up on Mother’s Day and left on Alberta’s birthday in October. Above all, Jack loved spending time with the grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren.
Jack was a member of the Nye Chapel Methodist Church. He was also a member of the American Legion, Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodge.
Jack is survived by his children, Paulette Deisher of Mount Carmel and Albert William (Kris) Wheatley of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren, Jacqueline (David) Haase, Stacey (Mark) Goodson, Tereasa (Scott Moler) Deisher, Steven Nash Armstrong, Forest (Michelle) Ubereste, Clinton (Alissa) Wheatley, Stephanie Wheatley; great-grandchildren, Cameron (Marissa) Kieffer, Caleb Goodson, Megan, Micheal, Steven and Katie Haase, Addison and Shelby Moler, Emri and Ilya Wheatley; great great-grandson Grayson Kieffer; and, siblings Mary Kathryn Guyman of Peoria, Illinois, and Harry Wheatley of St. Louis, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a great-granddaughter and siblings, Alice Bates, Inez Kacin, Raymond Wheatley and Jean Harris.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, August 4, at 11:00 a.m. at the Friendsville Cemetery in Friendsville, Illinois.
Condolences may be made online at www.short-cunninghamfh.com
Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve Jack’s family.
