Brooks Wheeler, 66, of Holland, died at Meijer Heart Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on December 26, 2008.
He was born October 6, 1942, in Medford, MA; graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College in 1964; received another bachelor's degree, in classical studies, from Harvard University in 1965; and earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of Michigan, where he also completed coursework toward a Ph.D. in classics. He taught classics at Hope College from 1968 until 1977, when he began a career with the Internal Revenue Service as office manager, district director, systems analyst, and trainer, retiring in November 2008.
The loves of his life were first and foremost his wife, Nancy; second, their Westie, Duffy; and third, the University of Michigan-anything Maize and Blue!
He served as president, past president, treasurer, and secretary for the U-M Club of Holland and with the Alumni Association as a member of the U-M Clubs Council and the Alumni Leadership Council.
For twenty years, the Wheelers led the Catholic Services Appeal campaign at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Holland.
He is survived by Nancy; his sister and brother-in-law Shirley and Carl (Pete) Peterson, of Milton, MA; his nephew, Eric and Penny Peterson and family of Rensselaer, IN; his niece, Dr. Linnea and Richard Linderman and family of Rome, NY; several cousins; many friends; and the Wheelers' special friend and companion, Marie Heuvel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the U-M Club Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area, U of M Office of Financial Aid (gift designated for U-M Club of Holland), Blue Lake Public Radio at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, or to a charity of one's choice.