Thayne M. Wheeler

Thayne M Wheeler, 89, of Idaho Falls, died Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, at his home. He was born Dec. 25, 1921, in Poplar, Idaho, to Jesse Jacob and Eva Violet Moss Wheeler. He grew up in Poplar and graduated from Ririe High School. He married Arzella Bowles in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on May 20, 1942. After his marriage to Arzella, he joined the United States Navy in 1942. In the Navy, he worked as an aviation radio second class, an agriac gunner and as a combat air crewman.

When the war ended, they moved to Swan Valley, where Thayne worked on the Palisades Dam for two years. They then bought a grain cleaner and did some farming and cleaned grain. In 1951, they moved to Idaho Falls and Thayne started working at the National Reactor Testing Station, where he was a security officer for 21 years. He won many awards as a sharpshooter. He also worked at Amcor until his retirement.

Thayne was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held many positions in the church, including bishop of the 14th Ward and patriarch of the Idaho Falls Taylor Mountain Stake.

Thayne loved being with his family, and they spent many hours in the mountains hiking, camping, fishing, hunting and shooting targets. He was under the care of Aspen Home and Hospice. The family thanks them, especially Julie and Verla for their loving care. He is survived by his wife, Arzella Wheeler of Idaho Falls; daughters, Tamera (Frank) Clapp of Riverton, Utah, Carol (Ed) Nasman of Boise, Shelley (Clint) Crumley of Idaho Falls, Chrys (Ken) Rindlesbach of Morgan, Utah, and Kelley (Gary) Nevels of Fulton, Mo.; daughter-in-law, Isabel Wheeler of Idaho Falls; sons, Jesse (Chris) Wheeler of San Francisco, Calif., and Scot (Niki) Wheeler of Midland, Mich.; brother, Warren Wheeler of Idaho Falls; 37 grandchildren; 93 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Eva; father, Jesse; son, Robert "Bob"; three brothers, Lyal, Rex and Ursel; and two sisters, Nellie and Louise.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, at the Park Taylor LDS church, 1291 W. 65th South in Idaho Falls, with Bishop Gregory Meacham officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19, at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First St. in Idaho Falls, and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in Ririe-Shelton Cemetery, with military rites performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Team and the Idaho Military Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to your favorite charity (such as the LDS Perpetual Education Fund). Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.

We will miss you dearly Grandpa Wheeler!