Donald Wilson Wheeler passed away on October 3, 2024, at the age of 89. He was the son of the late Clifford Wheeler and Bertha Stevens Wheeler.
Don attended Norwood High School and Springfield College. He married the love of his life, Mary-Jane (MJ) Carpenter, in 1962. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for three years, Don began his career as a teacher in the Norwood school system, where he taught junior high and high school classes for 33 years. He was Head Coach of the Norwood High hockey team for nearly two decades, bringing home eight Bay State League titles. He received multiple commendations from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for his contributions to the sport as well as being named to the MA State Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
An avid sailor, Don was a member of the Beverly Yacht Club for 40 years. He loved watching movies and listening to jazz and big band music.
Don is survived by his wife MJ of Marion and daughter Danalynne Menegus and her husband Kevin, of Pinole, CA.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 22 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, 2599 Cranberry Hwy, Wareham. Interment will follow at 2:00 pm at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Connery Ave., Bourne.
Donations in Don’s memory can be made to the charity created in 2018 in remembrance of Don and MJ’s great-niece: Maddie Lamson Scholarship Fund c/o Medway High School, 88 Summer St., Medway, MA 02053.
