Douglas Wheeler, 82

After seven years of courageously fighting cancer and other ailments, God mercifully called Doug home on July 24. Doug had fought the pain of cancer valiantly, believing God wasn't quite done with him yet; but he grew too tired and passed away peacefully. 

Douglas Damon Wheeler was born on September 2, 1943, at Community Hospital in Missoula, Mont. to Damon and Mary Wheeler. His first years were spent travelling throughout the Northwest and living on a farm in Arlee, Mont. The family eventually settled in Plains, Mont. in 1946. Brother Jim had joined the family by then and brother Dennis Jeffery joined the family in 1956. 

Doug went to school in Plains where he was active in all the available sports, band, chorus, and earned several awards. He also was a member of the DeMolay fraternal organization. 

Immediately after his high school graduation in 1962, he entered the Navy and spent four years in Bremerton, Wash. as a Navy corpsman. After the Navy he spent a short stint at the University of Montana. 

While in Missoula, he met a nursing student named Ferrol Graber whom he married in 1968. They moved to the Seattle area for a few years and then moved back to Plains for a short time where they welcomed son Jason Damon in 1972. They moved to Lolo, Mont. shortly after Jason's birth where they welcomed their daughter, Danielle Susan in 1979. 

While in Montana, Doug held several jobs in the automotive and heavy machinery sales industry. He also joined and participated with the Lolo Lions, and Jaycee organizations. 

After his marriage ended in 1994, Doug moved to Spokane. Wash. where he worked with Modern Machinery and later a Spokane school district that he thoroughly enjoyed. After moving to Spokane, he met Marianne Lovoi (Marti) whom he married in 1999. 

Doug retired in 2013 when he and Marti moved to Hayden, Ida. where he remained active with the American Legion and the Real Life Ministry church. He became a counselor helping people get employment through the Job Club that he helped organize. Doug was also a firm believer in seeing where there was a need or for something he or friends wanted done and then doing something about it. He did that until the end of his life. 

Doug loved to make friends and always had a story to share. He enjoyed hunting with friends and his father, his days of stock car racing, his many travels with Marti, and his time spent at their trailer at Mirror Lake in Idaho. He was also an avid Griz fan and often searched for establishments that aired the games. Doug also tremendously enjoyed greeting church members as they gathered for the service, shaking parishioner's hands or giving a hug, all while addressing each man as Bud and each lady as Sunshine, always with a smile on his face. Doug loved his family with all his heart and was very proud of being a Wheeler. 

He was preceded in death by his parents and many friends. 

He is survived by his wife Marti, his son Jason (Helena) and their children LilyAnna and Wesley; his daughter Danielle and her children Meila and Mason; brother Jim, brother Jeff (Tina) and their daughter Madison; and cousins Carolyn Quinton and Jim Rentfro (Libby). He is also survived by Marti's family of Robby Lovoi (Christa) and sons Gavin (Kim), Brett (Auli) and son Zade; Kevin Lovoi (Noelle) and their sons Micah, and Malachi and daughter Marissa (Ezra) and son Beckam and daughter Ashley. 

A celebration of life will be held at the Real Life Ministry, 1701 N 4th in Coeur d'Alene on Sept 12 at 2:00 p.m. Any donations would be appreciated at Hospice of North Idaho, 2290 W Prairie Ave., Coeur d'Alene, Ida.