Dr. Robert L. Wheeler, 89, died Sunday, January 20, 2019 at Waveny Park House in Overland Park, KS.  Memorial services were held Saturday, February 23, 2019 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO.  Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society or to ASPCA.

Dr. Wheeler was born March 12, 1929 in Detroit, MI, the son of Virgil Richard and Monica Awilda (Hoback) Wheeler.  He grew up in Webb City, MO and was a 1947 graduate of Webb City High School.  He received his Bachelor's of Science degree from Pittsburg State Teacher's College in Pittsburg, KS and received his MD from the University of Missouri Medical School in Columbia, MO in 1961. He served his internship at General Hospital in Kansas City, MO and joined Dr. Edward S. Jones' practice in Harrisonville, MO in 1962.  He was a U. S. Korean War Navy veteran, serving as a corpsman on the USS Consolation.

Dr. Wheeler married Linda Lee Heinrich on June 9, 1961 in Booneville, MO.  After completing his internship at General Hospital, he and Linda moved to Harrisonville in 1962.  He worked in the same practice, most recently known as Harrisonville Medical Clinic, for 51 years before retiring in 2013, serving the Harrisonville and Cass County community. He was staff member of Harrisonville Memorial Hospital, later Cass County Memorial Hospital, Cass Medical Center and then Cass Regional Medical Center, during the tenure of his practice.  He and Linda moved to Overland Park, KS in 2016.  Dr. Wheeler was a career-long member of the Missouri State Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.  He was awarded Lifetime Membership to the American Medical Association and received the Foundation Award from the Cass Medical Center Foundation in 2006.

Dr. Wheeler was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Monica Wheeler, and two brothers, Frederick E. and Richard D. Wheeler.  He is survived by his wife, Linda, Overland Park, KS; three daughters, Melissa Wheeler, Prairie Village, KS, Rachel Wheeler, St. George, UT, and Eden Wheeler and her husband, Christopher Walker, Lee's Summit, MO; one son, Coleman H. Wheeler and his wife, Sarah, Leawood, KS; 6 grandchildren, Tevan R. Balian, Aren J. Balian, Stefan W. Balian, Helton W. Walker, Miles Q. Wheeler and Alexandria L. Wheeler, and many nieces and nephews.