Maurice C. Wheeler

Maurice Carroll Wheeler was born July 31, 1933 and grew up in Elmo, MO. He was one of five children born to Leonard and Gladys (Campbell) Wheeler. Maurice was preceded in death by his younger brother Ronald and three siblings who died in infancy.

In 1951 Maurice graduated from High School in Elmo and then attended Clarinda Iowa Jr. College. He went on to attend NWMS College in Maryville, MO and CMSU in Warrensburg with majors in Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Industrial Arts and Drafting. He was awarded a National Science Foundation Scholarship to attend Middle Tennessee State Univ. where he received his Master’s Degree in General Science. Later he attended Sam Houston State University for Astronomy and Oklahoma State University for Fuel Energy.

He began his 38-year teaching career in 1955 at the Little Red School House in Clearmont, MO, teaching Industrial Arts for half a day. He then taught Math, Science and Industrial arts at Clarksdale from 1956-1958 and Stewartsville as teacher then principal from 1958-1960. He moved to Union Star and taught there from 1960-1968. In 1968 he was recruited by Mr. Eugene Ceglenski to come to Mound City where he taught Math, Science and Drafting for the next 25 years.

In the summers he helped his dad on the farm in Elmo. He loved cars, trucks and tractors. He was a “shade tree” mechanic and loved working on someone’s vehicle to solve their problem. He spent many hours working with fellow teacher Dave Holland to restore a VW wagon.  One of his happiest days was when he completed building his garage/workshop.

Maurice loved teaching and telling “his” stories. His happiest moments were when former students would drop in and relive their school days. Maurice’s first superintendent in Clarksdale gave him the best advice. Work to your highest point, then step back one notch. Maurice was principle one year in Stewartsville and then stepped back to the classroom where he was happy and successful.

On June 19, 1955, Maurice married Marie Morris in Pattonsburg, MO. She preceded him in death. Maurice passed away on Friday, January 24 2025 at his Mound City home.

He is survived by his children, Linda (Bob) Landzettel, Leavenworth, KS, Glenn (Karol) Wheeler, St. Joseph, MO, Greg Wheeler, Mound City MO, and Gary (Joy) Wheeler, Mound City; brother-in-law, Forrest (Jeanna) Morris, Stanberry, MO; six grandchildren, Wolfgang, Dietrich, and Sturm Landzettel, and Rebecca, James, and Joseph Wheeler; eight great grandchildren, Liberty Hart, Vivian and Amelia Landzettel, Lorelei & Lucian Landzettel, and Jacob, Christian and Savannah Landzettel; and several nieces and nephews.

Celebration of Life service:  10:30 am, Saturday, February 8, 2025, United Methodist Church, Mound City, Missouri. The family will greet friends at the church beginning at 9:00 am. Private family inurnment at High Prairie Cemetery, Elmo, Missouri. Memorials may be directed to the Mound City United Methodist Church.