Berniece M Wheeler

Berniece M (Kolbaba) Wheeler passed away after a full, long life on June 4th, 2019. She was born August 20, 1924, in Denver, Colorado, the oldest daughter of Henry Richard and Fannie Kolbaba. The Kolbaba blended family included a half-brother John Darling and half-sisters Irene and Leola Darling. They lived in Steamboat Springs, Colorado until Berniece was 12 and had welcomed sister Dottie and brother Ted Kolbaba. The family moved to Hamilton, Montana for two years and then on to Kalama, Washington, where Berniece graduated from High School in 1942.

In early 1943, Berniece’s beau George M Wheeler was drafted into the U.S.Army and sent to California for training. Berniece packed up and headed to California, where they were married on May 8th. The couple continued to Tennessee where George trained as a mechanic, but Berniece later returned to Kalama when George was shipped out to Europe.

Berniece gave birth to their only son, Wesley Richard Wheeler while George was still in France. George returned home in 1945 and eventually opened a Chevron gasoline service station with Berniece an equal partner. She continued to keep books, maintain the landscape and promote the business until they sold it in 1965.

In 1965, with a dream in mind, she and George purchased a large tract of land on Francois Lake, British Columbia. For a year, they bulldozed roads, built cabins, and finally built a home-lodge. Wheeler’s Birch Bay Resort was a favorite hunting and fishing spot for many Canadian and U.S. outdoorsmen.

After selling the resort and living in several other British Columbia and Washington communities, they semi-retired to Abbottsford, BC where the couple was active in their church – Faith Lutheran Church of Abbottsford. For several years Berniece ran the kitchen and prepared meals for a large summer Bible seminar.

Finally, in 2007, she and George did retire fully to Grapevine, Texas, where she and George joined First United Methodist Church of Colleyville and the Searchers Sunday School Class. Her true joys, besides George and her family, were her Church and volunteering at Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE). George passed away in 2013 after 69 years of marriage.

She is survived by her son Wesley and wife, Susan of Dallas, Texas; granddaughter Blair Wheeler of Dallas; and grandson Cole Wheeler and his wife Dina McKenney, also of Dallas, Texas, sister Dottie Barreith of Montesano, Washington, brother Ted Kolbaba and his wife Marian of Bullhead City, Arizona, as well as many other family members and many, many friends.

Memorials may be made to GRACE, P.O.Box 412, Grapevine, Texas 76099 or the Kristin Wheeler Scholarship Fund at First United Methodist Church of Colleyville, 1000 Church Street, Colleyville, Texas 76034.