David Keith Wheeler was born July 3, 1958, to Keith and Joan. David grew up a farm boy learning how to drive tractors and raise livestock. He worked putting up hay, walking beans, and even babysitting once in a while. Riding horses and rodeoing were favorite pastimes.
He attended Southeast Consolidated from kindergarten to graduating with the class of 1976. Dave knew farming was not his best option, so he joined the Navy. He was proud of his service, following in the footsteps of his dad in the Army and his 5 uncles in Naval Service.
David married Marie Land on December 23, 1978, in Nemaha, Nebraska. Marie followed him to each duty station and through deployments to the Middle East. His first ship assignment was the USS Enterprise, followed by the USS Coral Sea, USS Forrestal, and the USS Kalamazoo, from which he retired after attaining the rank of Chief. Following retirement Dave followed his Navy friend Jay to Alabama for work.
Nikki Marie was born March 7, 1981, followed by Joshua David on June 21, 1991. Dave said goodbye to Marie on September 23, 2017. Life was lonely for David, and he began to spend more and more time in Stella after losing Marie, his father-in-law Bill Land, and his own dad the same year.
David returned to Stella and became active in the Stella Community Church where he served on the church council. He was also involved in the American Legion doing military honors and with Bedford Cemetery.
David found life and love again uniting in marriage to Jana Geyer Anderson on September 3, 2022. Dave and Jana had adventures camping, enjoying his motorcycle, fishing in Minnesota, helping Jana with her Christman Display, and being in the Halloween spirit at Indian Cave State Park. Dave also went back to his farming roots working for various farmers, Stella Ag, and Kennedy Farms. He was a help to his mom whenever she called.
God decided He needed David on June 9, 2026, peacefully.
Those left to remember and love him include his wife Jana; children Nikki (Danny) and Joshua, both of Alabama; grandchildren Landon (Ceci) Davis, Logan Davis, and Ethan Savage; mother Joan Wheeler; sisters Pamela (Vern) Mayfield and Lisa (Gary) Juilfs; Jana’s children Dustin (Mariana) Anderson, Dru Anderson, and Cassidy (Billy) Lotter; her grandchildren Chaelee, Brynlee, Quinn, and Everly Lotter, Cole and Kyler Anderson; mother-in-law Betty Land; brother-in-law Jim (Amy) Land; sisters-in-law Lila (Lancer) Land, Beth (Deon) Griffith; aunt Mary Behrends; nephews Eric, Jason (Jamie), Lukah (Jessica); nieces Amy, Lacee (Adam); great-nieces and nephews, all of whom loved Uncle David; many cousins and many friends.
David was preceded in death by his wife Marie, father Keith, father-in-law Bill Land, grandson Luca Wheeler, grandparents Helen and Richard Wheeler and Hazel and Lester VanDeventer.
He will be missed.
A funeral service for Dave was Tuesday, June 16, 2025, at the Stella Community Church. Rev. John States and Bob Beckett conducted the service, and Carolyn Bredemeier was accompanist for congregational singing. Casket bearers were Rick Ramer, Steve Kennedy, Vance Hutton, Jay Tumlin, Jim Land, and Dustin Anderson. Jim Owings, John Wheeler, Darren Santana, Dayton Kennedy, Steve Stanley, Joe Schlosser, and Marlin Joy were honorary bearers. Burial followed in Bedford Cemetery at Howe, Nebraska.
Services were entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.