Russell "Rusty" Wheeler

1958 - 2020

Russell "Rusty" Wheeler

Russell "Rusty" Wheeler, 62, passed away on September 5, 2020. He was born on July 4, 1958 in Augusta, Ga to Russell and Patricia (Harper) Wheeler. He is survived by his wife, Anne and two sons, Trey and Cory.

Rusty graduated from Summerville High School and The Citadel (South Carolina) where he earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.

After he completed college, he worked for Santee Cooper and then moved to Louisiana to work for Louisiana Power and Light (now Entergy). He met and married Anne (Nielsen) on July 26, 1986. They moved to South Florida (Miramar) and started a family while Rusty worked for Florida Power and Light in Miami. As the boys grew, (Trey 1988 and Cory 1989) the family moved to Cooper City and later to Palm City in 1998.

Rusty's passion was sharing the outdoors with his boys. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with them. They looked forward to annual trips diving for lobsters in the Keys and scalloping near Homosassa, FL. Rusty hunted each year with Trey and several friends in Idaho. He hunted for elk in New Mexico and often spoke fondly of this trip. Rusty, Trey, and Cory enjoyed hunting for alligators each year in Lake Okeechobee. The family enjoyed travelling, especially out west to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Rusty enjoyed fly-fishing in cool mountain streams and even panning for gold. He shared hobbies with his sons such as coin collecting and stock market trading.

Holidays were a special time. Rusty enjoyed spending time with family in Summerville, SC with his mother, Patricia, and sisters Arlene and Karene. His father, Russell, who fought in the Vietnam War and served his country in the Navy, preceded him in death. Rusty enjoyed spending time in New Orleans visiting Anne's family (father Thomas, deceased in 2015, her mother Enid (94), and siblings, Mary, Tom (Pat), Jerry (ex-wife Tammy), Bobby (Stephanie), and Lorrie (Eric). There were so many cousins on both sides of their family to share memories with.

Rusty coached his sons' baseball, flag football, and soccer teams as they grew up. He was their scout leader. Our family loved going on monthly camping trips with the scouts. During their high school years, Rusty went to every football, baseball, soccer, track, and cross-country event he could. He was so proud of his sons, especially how they grew up to become wonderful, responsible young men.

The family would like to thank all the staff at Cleveland Clinic Martin Health who took care of Rusty during his cancer fight. We especially would like to thank his oncologist, Dr. Abesada Terk, who was open and honest about the tests, treatments, and struggles Rusty would endure.

Rusty will always be remembered as a humorous, generous, caring, and loving husband, father, and dog grandfather to Trey's chocolate lab "Ringer". (He adored spending time with "Ringer".)

A memorial service/celebration of life for Rusty Wheeler will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 10:00 AM at Forest Hills Memorial Park, 2001 SW Murphy Road in Palm City, Florida.

Condolences can be made at www.foresthillspalmcityflorida.com

Neighbors and friends have set up a Go Fund Me (Rusty Wheeler) page to help the family.