Maurice L. Wheeler, 81, of Berlin, passed away on Friday March 3, 2017 at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT following a courageous fight for life surrounded by and connected to his adoring family. He was born in Berlin on June 12, 1935 the son of Albert and Mildred (Murphy) Wheeler and was a lifelong resident. He graduated from St. Patrick’s High School where he was captain of the basketball team. Maurice was the Public Works Director in Berlin for many years, retiring in 1998 and he was also a practicing land surveyor in NH. He was a member of Good Shepherd Parish. He loved gardening, tending to his apple trees and picking wild blueberries on the family’s ancestral farm in West Milan where he also enjoyed tinkering with his tractor and cutting the fields. He enjoyed making bread and his famous ginger snap’s especially with a grandchild helping him mix the dough while standing on a chair beside him. Maurice had a great appreciation and love for the outdoors. He spent countless hours walking through the North Country Woods and spending time at camp with family and good friends. In his lifetime, Maurice was also an enthusiastic runner who ran two marathons as well as two Mt. Washington road races among many other running events. He enjoyed watching all of his grandchildren participate in sports, dance and their other interests and was truly their greatest fan and friend.
Family includes his wife Beatrice (Tanguay) Wheeler of Berlin, NH; his children Jay Wheeler and wife Peg of Berwick, ME, Jill Wheeler-Leggett and husband Bill of Jacksonville, FL, Jim Wheeler and wife Karen of West Milan, NH and Jess Wheeler and wife Jen of Dayton, ME; a sister Joan Hilt of Colebrook, NH; grandchildren Abby and husband Tim Rummo, Grady and Gabe Wheeler, Robert Byars and wife Marianne and Tyler Byars, Shamus Wheeler and companion Wendy Wang, Nicholas and Sophie Wheeler; 4 great grandchildren (Luke, Lilyanne, Livia and Hazel); many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his sisters-in-law Dorothy Ferrante of Gorham and Irene Tieva of Tuscon AZ, his brothers-in-law Louie and Arthur Tanguay of Gorham. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by his siblings Donald, Albert, Jr. and Monica Wheeler as well as brothers-in-law Richard, Alphee, Wilfred and Maurice Tanguay.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday March 10, 2017 at 10 AM at St. Anne Church of Good Shepherd Parish. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave., Berlin on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge, 237 East Ave., Burlington, VT, 05401-3412.