FORT CARSON, CO: SPC Christopher Joseph Wheeler, U.S. Army, age 19, formerly of Gloucester and Beverly, died Friday, May 27, 2011 from injuries sustained in a hit and run accident in Colorado. He was the husband of Stephanie (Jackson) Wheeler.
Born in Beverly on August 5, 1991, he was the son of Karen (Beyer) Hathaway, companion of Joseph Loiacono, and Glen, and his wife Kathy (Fisher) Wheeler all of Gloucester.
Christopher was a 2009 graduate of the North Shore Vocational Technical High School in Middleton, where he excelled in baseball, basketball and as a varsity football player, having won the MVP in his senior year.
His beautiful smile and bright blue eyes drew the attention of everyone with whom he came in contact. After graduation he joined the Army and, having served a tour of duty in Afghanistan, he quickly rose to the rank of Specialist and received honors such as the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat and Special Skill Badge, and an Overseas Service Bar.
Christopher was a proud soldier and believed wholeheartedly in his duty to serve his country – he will forever be Army Strong. He was a devoted husband, son, brother, grandson and nephew and will be sadly missed by everyone who was blessed to have him in their lives.
In addition to his wife, Stephanie, his high school sweetheart and love of his live, whom he had just married last summer, he is survived by his brothers, Joshua Beyer and Justin Wheeler both of Gloucester; sisters, Jaime and Emma Hathaway of Seabrook, NH; stepsister, Haley of Seabrook, NH; stepbrothers, Paul, Peter, Michael and Brian all of Gloucester, his in-laws, Kathleen and Calvin Braley of Middleton and Brent and Debra Jackson of Salem; paternal grandparents, Mike and Alice Wheeler of Gloucester, his aunts and uncles: David and Annemarie Beauparlant and David and Ida Lloyd all of Gloucester, Carolyn Booth of Danvers, Ann Bertone of Sarasota, FL, Anne Wheeler of Athol, John Wheeler, husband of Janise of Gloucester, Joe Wheeler, husband of Celia of Vernon, CT, Jim Wheeler, husband of Debbie of Beverly, and Jerry Wheeler, husband of Annie of Ponca City, OK; his godparents Christine Welch of Gloucester and Jon Eastman of Pennsylvania and many loving cousins including, David Beauparlant, Jr. and Hannah Beauparlant, and many extended family members. Christopher had many friends from both high school and the service who will miss him deeply including, Mike Sudak, Rashad Sims, Zach Newman, Brett DiBenedetto, Devin Theriault, Ryan Genaw, Bret Carpenella and Kelly Costanzo.
He was predeceased by his maternal grandmother and best friend Vitina “Tina” Beyer; his special nana, Cathy Cabral; his maternal grandfather, Clarence “Buddy” Beyer; maternal great-grandparents Joseph “Pino” and Anna Scola, paternal great-grandparents, Maurice and May Wheeler and Aime and Beatrice Bellavance.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday morning in the Holy Family Parish, St. Ann Church at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held Sunday afternoon in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 2 - 6 p.m. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the North Shore Vocational Technical High School to benefit the Christopher J. Wheeler Football Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 806, Middleton, MA 01949 or the Alzheimer's Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472.