Gary Wheeler

Gary Lee Wheeler, age 77, of Tucson, Arizona passed away peacefully at the Southern Arizona VA Hospital in Tucson on October 19, 2026. He was born on November 29, 1948, in Lawrence, Kansas to Albert and Edna (Coultis) Wheeler.

Gary graduated from Lawrence High School in May 1967. He served in the United States Army from February 1969 until his honorable discharge in February 1971. Gary had a wide range of occupations including Hallmark Cards, Lawrence Paper Company, production supervisor at Davol and motel management.

Gary is survived by his wife, Patty (Anderson) Wheeler who he first dated in high school and reunited with 53 years later. They were married February 5, 2020. He liked to tell people that it took him over 50 years to get her to say ‘yes’.

Gary is also survived by his half-sister, Donna Payne of Topeka, KS; nieces Vicki Myers of Wichita, KS, Donna Lempka of Grand Island, NE, and Penny Copple of Independence, MO, as well as nephew Lonny Snodgrass of Topeka, KS.

In lieu of a memorial service Gary simply requested he be laid to rest with his loving father in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, KS.