Robert “Bob” Eugene Wheeler Sr. age 87 of Clinton, Missouri passed away peacefully, Saturday, June 28, 2025 at his home.
Bob was born on December 19th, 1937, in Osceola, MO, to Robert Nige and Myrtle Mae (Baxter) Wheeler. He was the oldest of their five children. He later moved south of Urich, MO, and grew up working on his family’s farm. He attended the Urich School and graduated in 1955, having been involved in numerous clubs and activities.
He met and later married Nellie Marie Bysor in Urich on February 22, 1958. They made their home in Urich until they moved to Clinton in their later years. Bob and Nellie had two children, Robert Eugene “Gene” Wheeler Jr. and Debby Jo (Wheeler) Van Winkle.
Bob took great pride in his work. He worked at E.O. Graham Gas Station, Urich Lumber Yard, and Commercial Lumber, located in Little Rock, Arkansas. He also owned his own black Peterbilt, which he used to haul corn and lumber from Arkansas to North Kansas City each week. He then retired from Crete Carrier. After retirement, he enjoyed working at Country Mart a few days a week, where he could see many of his Urich friends and quickly became very popular among the regulars. He was also a volunteer firefighter for Urich, later becoming their volunteer Fire Chief.
Bob and Nellie loved to play cards with friends and family, watch game shows, listen to live music in Branson, watch their Clinton Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, and Chiefs, and spend time with their family. Bob also recently became a big fan of the Texas Longhorns Softball Team and was able to cheer them on to a national championship, watching his great-niece, Mac, pitch for them.
On his weekends, he loved attending tractor pulls and was particularly proud of his Case tractor. His granddaughters have so many fond memories of going with Bob and Nellie to watch Bob pull his tractor and having apple cider and apple butter with them in Adrian. He has many trophies and photos to show all of his successes at the tractor pulls.
Bob enjoyed hunting for mushrooms, quail, and squirrels. He also loved to fish. Bob and Nellie spent many summer afternoons fishing around home and also fishing for trout in Branson. Bob would occasionally go on (or be dragged into) interesting hunting trips with his Uncle Peewee, which always turned into hilarious stories.
He took great pride in being an excellent navigator. If anyone in his family were planning a trip, he would get out his huge atlas book and show them the best routes to take. He loved to talk about all the places he had been along the route as well.
In Nellie’s final years, he was her primary caregiver and took great pride in doing as much as he could on his own for her.
Bob loved to sit on his back deck and chat with some of his neighbors, Jim, Ron, and Darrell. He was also a regular at the Clinton Senior Center, where he enjoyed music and socializing.
He always looked forward to his son-in-law, Ron’s, visits almost every evening. They would often watch Westerns together, listen to music, and discuss the day. He loved living so close to Debby and Ron and would frequently spend time on their back deck or enjoying a meal with the whole family. He would never turn down one of Debby’s meals! Bob also loved to go fishing and hunting with his son, Gene, and to hear all about his and Lorri’s adventures.
Bob never missed any of his grandkids or great-grandkids’ events. He attended hundreds of sporting events, awards ceremonies, school events, and many other occasions. The number of miles he drove to support his family would be astonishing. He would do anything for his family. The week before he was hospitalized, he enjoyed watching all four great-grandkids play basketball and baseball. During which, one great-grandchild was late to her batting appearance because she was sitting on Grandpa Bob’s lap in the middle of the game! This was not out of the ordinary, and Grandpa loved every second of it.
Preceding him in death were his wife of over 65 years, Nellie, his parents, and brothers, Bill Wheeler and Jimmy Wheeler.
Surviving are his son Robert Eugene Wheeler Jr and his wife Lorri of Columbia; his daughter Debby Jo (Wheeler) Van Winkle, and her husband, Ron of Clinton; his granddaughters Miranda Day and her husband Anthony, Bethany Ross and her husband Tayler, Great-Grandsons Kingston and Kai Day, Great-Granddaughters Vandy and Molina Ross all of Clinton; his brother Johnny Wheeler of Urich; his sister Mary Wheeler of Greenwood; and his sister-in-law Rosemary Hunter of Clinton. Bob also had an extra special nephew, Randy Bysor (Becky), whom he considered one of his own and loved so dearly. A host of nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive him.
The family would like to include a special “thank you” to St. Croix Hospice, Kim Willis, and also to his caregivers, Helen and Sheila. Their exceptional care allowed him and his family to enjoy their last days together, a gift that is appreciated more than words can express.
Funeral services were held July 1, 2025 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton with Rev. David Mills officiating. The casket bearers were Ron VanWinkle, Kingston Day, Miranda Day, Anthony Day, Tayler Ross, Bethany Ross and Randy Bysor. Vandy Ross, Kai Day and Molina Ross were honorary bearers. Interment followed in Stone’s Chapel Cemetery, Montrose, MO.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
