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Carolyn Wheeler, 97, of Afton, died Oct. 9, 2025, at Creston Specialty Care in Creston. A Celebration of Life service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at the Afton United Methodist Church in Afton. Pastor Sheila Sutton will officiate. Services will be livestreamed at a link under her obituary at powersfh.com. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery near Afton. Open visitation with family receiving friends will be 9-10:30 a.m., Friday, prior to services at the Afton United Methodist Church.
Memorials can be directed to the Afton United Methodist Church. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.
Carolyn Marie (Peterson) Wheeler was born Oct. 3, 1928, daughter of Edith Laura (Kingery) Peterson and Carl Axel Peterson north of Afton on the family farm. She graduated from Afton High School with the class of 1947. During the summer following graduation, Carolyn obtained her teaching certificate. She taught kindergarten through eighth grade at a few rural country schools.
On May 21, 1950, Carolyn was united in marriage to Harold Keith Wheeler at the Afton United Methodist Church. Together they lived and farmed in rural Union County, raising five children. Harold passed away in 1982.
Carolyn did a variety of jobs until 1994 when she began her career as a med aide at local nursing homes. She retired in 2008 and in 2016, moved to Homestead Assisted Living Center in Creston, later moving to Creston Specialty Care.
Carolyn was a member of the Afton United Methodist Church and the Sunshine Society. Carolyn loved to “talk” on the phone and had many friends. She will be greatly missed.
Carolyn is survived by her two sons, Rodney (Denise) Wheeler of Ames and Reggie Wheeler of Richmond, Missouri; three daughters: Rhonda Brown of Mustang, Oklahoma, Cindy Taylor of West Des Moines and Edee (Roger) McArtor of Higginsville, Missouri; nine grandchildren: Colin, Darren, Linda, Dean, Bethany, Kaitlyn, Kyle, Branden and Kayla; five great-grandchildren: Autumn, Emma, Kallen, Jaylene and Leo and brother Frederick Peterson of Omaha, Nebraska.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Harold; sons-in-law, Duane Brown and Bub Taylor; daughter-in-law Dena Wheeler and brothers: Howard, Roland and Dale Peterson.