Henry Albert Wheeler, a WW II veteran who served in the Australian military and led an adventurous life that culminated in becoming a popular figure in the Grand Junction Jewish community, passed away Nov. 27 at the age of 100.
Mr. Wheeler was the subject of a personality profile in the Intermountain Jewish News VIP edition, Oct. 30, 2020.
He was born Sept. 19, 1920 in England, and grew up in Dr. Barnardo’s Homes, a British-based network of orphanages. He was sent to live at a Dr. Barnardo’s Homes training farm in Australia, where he worked during his teenage years. He became an Australian cowboy, proficient in working with horses and cattle.
At the onset of WW II, Mr. Wheeler voluntarily enlisted in the Australian Army at age 19, and was shipped out for training in Mandatory Palestine (now Israel). He rose to the rank of platoon sergeant in the famed 24th Australian Infantry Battalion. He was proud that his division was the only one during WW II that fought “all four of the King’s enemies: the Italians in North Africa, the Germans in Greece, the Vichy French in Lebanon and Syria, and Japan.”
While in Palestine for training, Mr. Wheeler met Rachel Hillel, who served in the military for Palestine during WW II. The two were married Dec. 23, 1944 in Parramatta, Australia.
Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler emigrated to the US, where he became a construction contractor.
In 1976, the Wheelers moved to Palisade, Colo., where Mr. Wheeler purchased a peach orchard and grew peaches for 26 years before retiring at age 82. The Wheelers became active and beloved members of Ohr Shalom, the synagogue in Grand Junction.
Mr. Wheeler was awarded 10 medals for his military service, the most recent on the occasion of this 100th birthday, when the Australian government honored him. Henry and Rachel Wheeler were the grand marshals of the Grand Junction Veterans Day parade in 2018, the first time that veterans of foreign militaries were so honored.
Mrs. Wheeler passed away in 2019 at age 99.
Graveside services for Mr. Wheeler took place Nov. 30 in the Ohr Shalom Mesa Orchard Cemetery with Aaron Long, MD, officiating. Callahan-Edfast Mortuary made the arrangements.
Friend Richard Stiefler, MD, said, “I could listen to Henry’s war stories over and over again with awe and admiration. Most of all, I was buoyed by his deep connection and love for Israel. I felt that with people like Henry and the network in Israel that he was tied into, the country was in good hands. He knew Israel like a sabra, and Israel loved him.”
Mr. Wheeler is survived by his daughters Melanie (Robert) Spitzer, Portland, Ore.; Ruth (Murray) Huberman, Woodland Hills, Calif.; Eli (Vidal) Castillo, Grand Junction; and Daphne (Eric Wilcox), Dufur, Ore.; grandchildren Bryan Hold, Eric Hold, David Hold, Jessica Spitzer, Michal Melamud, Johnna Trejo, Sara Carbone and Rebecca Huberman; and eight great-grandchildren.
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