Robert "Bob" Wheeler

Robert “Bob” L. Wheeler, 60, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Oct. 23, 2013 at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee with his family at his side. He was born on April 7, 1953 to Robert and Elizabeth Wheeler. He attended Holy Redeemer Grade School and Central High School in Evansville. He was a member of the YMCA Swim Team in grade school and high school. He later swam for the University of Evansville and graduated from U of E with a BS in counseling. It was at this time that he experienced two life-threatening illnesses that impacted his health for the rest of his life but did not stop him from following the Lord’s calling. In Evansville he attended Christian Fellowship Church. Through his CFC connections, Bob felt called to serve as a missionary in Kenya for Food For the Hungry. He recruited and trained teams for cross-cultural experiences in the third world. He was in Africa for 13 months living on the savannah, overseeing the Child Sponsorship Program of 400 Kenyan children. Through their rich exchanges, Bob gained a renewed appreciation of life. Bob returned to the states and married Janet Saalweachter, the mother of his favorite Sunday school student, Tracy Dougan. When Tracy married Jason Damer, Bob became grandfather to Alexandria and Abigail. He served as vice-president for Neues Leban Ministry, a Christian family counseling ministry and established Barnabas Discipleship Ministries in 1995 to provide Christian family and marriage counseling. In 2005 Bob and Janet moved to Tennessee. He attended World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro. Because of Bob’s strong computer and communication skills he began working for Quanta Manufacturing Nashville, a laptop computer and tablet repair service. He excelled at trouble shooting, disassembling and repairing laptop computers. Directed by his love for the Lord it provided him an opportunity to touch the lives of thousands of people through the services he provided. Bob is preceded in death by his parents and survived by his wife of thirty years, Janet, his beloved daughter, Tracy (Jason) Damer and granddaughters, Alex and Abby; siblings: Sheila (Steve) Schenk of St. Philip, Indiana, Janice Wheeler of Maryland, and Bruce (Linda) Wheeler of St. Philip, Indiana; sisters and brothers-in-law: Terri (Bob) Schaffstein of Mt. Vernon, Indiana, Edward (Sandy) Saalweachter, Jr. of Illinois, Julia Williams of Florida, Anita (Gary) Linford of Illinois, Edith (Mike) Hosman of Ohio. Bob’s nieces and nephews include: Heather (Drew) Allen, John Schenk, Edward Schenk, Paul Wheeler, Stephanie Wheeler, Laura (Ross) Kimble, Eric (Rebecca) Schaffstein, Jason (Angela) Schaffstein, Karen (James) Amick, Jeremy Williams, Bradley (Nith) Williams, Alayna Williams, Leanne (Tim) Winter, and Joseph (Hope) Coomes; and many grand nieces and nephews. Visitation will be on Sunday, October 27, 2013 from 1:00 until 6:00 P.M. at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 West Franklin Street, Evansville, Indiana. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, October 28, 2013 at Pierre Funeral Home, Rev. David Niednagel officiating. Burial will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Wadesville, Indiana. Condolences may be made online at http://www.pierrefuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Vanderbilt University Medical Center: www.VanderbiltHealth.org/giving.

Robert "Bob" Wheeler

April 7, 1953 - October 23, 2013