Pamela Klein Wheeler

Pamela Klein Wheeler

Pella

Pamela Klein Wheeler died unexpectedly on August 26, 2014 in Pella IA. She was the daughter of Bob and Doretha (Vogelaar) Klein, and was born on Mar 24, 1945, the second of three children.

Pam graduated from Pella High with the class of 1963 and attended Central College and the University of Iowa. She moved to San Francisco in 1966 where she met Hank Andrea. They were married in 1968 and eventually moved to Massachusetts where daughter Stacie Lynn was born in 1970. Pam began working in the apparel industry as a buyer in Boston, and later transferred to New York, working for Abraham & Straus Department Stores. She soon moved into sales, relocating to Southern California in 1978, and was national sales manager for Rose Marie Reid, a swimwear company, for many years.

In 1990 she married Jerry Wheeler, who was the love of her life. For many successful years Pam and Jerry teamed up to sell Heritage Lace products in California. Jerry died unexpectedly in 2007. Pam eventually retired and moved in 2009 to Pella to help care for her 90 year old father. In semi-retirement in Pella, Pam continued to work in sales for Lake Prairie Marketing Group, the promotional products division of Pella Products, the family company. In the short time she lived in Pella, she made many good friends.

Pam was an outgoing, caring, happy individual who made friends easily. She had a level of personal empathy not often found. Pam could not enter a room without lighting it up and had endless energy. Her daughter Stacie lovingly referred to her as 'the energizer bunny' as Pam rarely stopped going unless she was doing a crossword puzzle.

She is survived by her daughter Stacie Andrea Highland, her husband Steve Highland, and special granddaughter Jaden Andrea, all of Orange CA, her sister Sandy (Bruce) Heerema, and brother Robert V. (Bobby) Klein, both of Pella IA. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Jerry Wheeler.

Pam's Last Party, a celebration of her life, will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Maytag Center on the Central College campus.

Memorial contributions, if desired, may be directed to Pella Garden Club's Fair Haven Tulip Bed Restoration Project, P.O. Box 164, Pella IA 50219. Pam was very enthused about this project she was going to help spearhead for the restoration of a large, iconic local tulip bed.