Jo Ann Wheeler

Jo Ann Wheeler, 91, of Aurora, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Bel Oak of Mt. Vernon. She was born July 5, 1934, in Aurora, the daughter of Charles Wayne and Georgia Gladys (Norman) Wallace.

She was a 1952 graduate of Aurora High School. She worked as secretary for Pepsi Cola General Bottlers in Kansas City from 1964 to 1973 and Albers Milling Company in Kansas City from 1974 to 1980. She was a member of Orange Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

On June 15, 1952, she married Derrel B. Wheeler in Aurora. He preceded her in death on Feb.25, 2006.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Laurah Wheeler, of Herman; two sisters, Eilene Keith and Marlene Keith and her husband, Darrell, all of Aurora; sister-in-law, Shirley (Wheeler) Gray, of Raymore; six grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Georgia Wallace; her husband, Derrel Wheeler; two sons, Thomas and Glenn Wheeler; one grandson, Luke Wheeler; one sister, Lois (Wallace) Whitney and her husband, Walter and brother-in-law, Dean Keith.

A visitation was held on Thursday, July 2, at Crafton-Cantrell Funeral Home in Aurora, with a funeral service that followed in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at the Marionville IOOF Cemetery.