Reed C. Wheeler

Reed C. Wheeler returned to his heavenly home on July 3, 2022. He lived a fulfilling and beautiful life and yet he left us too soon after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Reed was born June 11, 1951, to Wayne S and Opal Devore Wheeler.  He was the third of five children.

Reed’s life told a clear story of what he valued most: family and connection to God and others through church service.

Reed set the tone for a life of service during his mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Texas North Mission. Upon his return from his mission, Reed began dating Valane Anderson. In his low-key way, he asked her to marry him and they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on April 27, 1973.

He graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in geography. After graduation, he launched into an opening as a cartographer for the U.S. Forest Service, where he spent his entire career.

Shortly after moving to Magna, Utah, Reed was called to serve as a bishop at the age of twenty-eight. As a young church leader, he was mentored by many humble and kind people. The people of Magna helped him understand and increasingly appreciate the importance of being good to everyone. He spent his life serving in a variety of callings, in which he developed deeply cherished friendships.

Reed endeavored to be a present and loving father and husband. There was rarely a school, scouting, or young women’s event that he missed. Date nights were important to him, because he understood how much Valane sacrificed time with him as he served in the church.

His grandchildren brought particular joy to him. Reed’s most tender reflection in facing the end of his life was how much he’d miss time with his grandkids.

Reed was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Opal Wheeler. He is survived by his wife, Valane, his four children, Randy (Nikki) Wheeler, Rachel Wheeler Johnson, Kyle Wheeler, and Stephanie (Hyrum) Merrill, and his four siblings, Lyn (Sue) Wheeler, Trudy (Gary) Crow, Julie (Patrick O’Brien) Wheeler, and Alan (Rocio) Wheeler, and his eleven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2022, at the Magna Utah Stake Center, 3084 S. 8400 W., Magna, UT.  A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Russon Mortuary, 295 N. Main St., Bountiful, Utah and Saturday morning from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to services.  Interment will follow at Lakeview Cemetery, 1640 Lakeview Dr., Bountiful, Utah.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the missionary fund for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints if you so desire.

Services will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page and on this obituary page. The live stream will begin about 10-15 minutes prior to the service and will be posted below.