Katherine Hall Wheeler

Katherine Hall Wheeler

Died March 14, 2016

Katherine Hall Wheeler died on March 14, 2016 in Northport, Michigan.  She was born on August 22, 1919 in Cincinnati, Ohio the daughter of Fred and Carrie Hall. 

  Katherine [Katie] graduated from Highlands High School in Ft. Thomas, Kentucky in 1937, and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1941 with a BA degree.  

  In 1926 Katie’s parents built a cottage on North Lake Leelanau.  The “Cottage”, and the Leelanau area, became an important part of her life from then on as she spent parts of nearly every summer there with her family for 89 years.

  In June 1942 Katie married her high school sweetheart, Harley Wheeler, an Army artillery officer who was soon shipped out for three years to the European theater.  During that time Katie taught elementary school in her hometown of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky and did home front volunteer work.  From 1945 to 1972, as an Army wife, Katie moved with her family 11 times to assignments all over the country, and West Germany. Katie and Harley retired to San Antonio, Texas in 1972, remaining there until their 2009 move to Leelanau County to be closer to family.

  Besides being a creative and industrious home maker, wherever she lived Katie was very involved in church and other volunteer work - including many summers of service at the Leelanau Historical Society Museum. Katie excelled in a wide variety of interests including sewing, ceramics, jewelry making, gardening, furniture refinishing, and cooking. She was always a bundle of energy and, most of the time, ran circles around her three kids.

Katie was a cheerful, supportive, and friendly person known for her positive attitude and sense of humor.  She had a strong sense of history as shown in the detailed scrapbooks she kept of family activities starting in the mid-1920s.  She was a tireless and adventurous traveler always seeking sights and events off the beaten path. 

  Katie was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  Her memory will forever be cherished and honored by her family.

  She was a long time member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in San Antonio, and a member of the Leland Summer Church. 

  Katie’s husband of 69 years, Harley, passed away in 2011. She is survived by a son, Gil Wheeler; two daughters, Kathie Vestal, and Jane (Jon) Markham, all of East Leland, Michigan. Katie also leaves behind four grandchildren:  Richard Vestal [Jennifer], Chrissy Root [Dayton], Allison Otvos [Scott], and Wilson Wheeler [Allison], and eight great grandchildren. 

  Memorials may be directed to the Leelanau Historical Society, Basket Collection Fund, 203 Cedar St, Leland, MI 49654.

  The family would like to thank the staff of Northport Highlands for their care provided to Katie during the last six years.   

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