Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Steve Wheeler was born in Pomona, California, in 1952, the son of Stanton and Mary Lou Wheeler. He graduated from Staples High School in Westport, Connecticut, where he was a standout on the school’s track and cross-country teams, setting numerous school records.
Steve’s passion for competitive running flourished at Duke University, where he won numerous Atlantic Coast Conference championships in both indoor and outdoor competition and was awarded All-American status in Track & Field multiple times. He set several Duke individual and relay team records, including the Distance Medley Relay and 4xMile Relay. In 1974, Steve became the 67th distance runner in the United States to run a sub-four-minute mile.
Steve earned a master’s degree in public administration from San Diego State University in 1978 and embarked on a distinguished, four-decade-long career in city and county administration.
Steve was county administrator for Clackamas County, Oregon, and city manager for the cities of Tualatin and Hood River, Oregon. He retired in 2018.
Steve was an active member of Rotary International and served on the budget committees for the Lane Council of Governments and Lane Transit District. He led several Rotary projects including a demonstration to fight human trafficking and the installation of a Rotary Peace Pole at the Bob Keefer Center in Springfield, Oregon.
Steve was married to Nancy Newton, the current city manager of Springfield, Oregon. Together, they shared a deep commitment to public service and civic leadership.
Steve was predeceased by his father, Stanton Wheeler, and his brother, Kenneth Wheeler. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Newton; his mother, Mary L. Reyen of Vista, California; his brother, Warren Wheeler of Lorton, Virginia; his children, Jeffrey Wheeler (and grandson Tucker) of Tualatin and Emily Wheeler of Mesa, Arizona; niece Gwendolyn Wheeler of New York city, nephew Owen Wheeler of Miami, Florida and their mother Haynie Wheeler of Madison, Connecticut; niece Lauren Wheeler of San Antonio, Texas, and her mother Jeannine Wheeler of Austin, Texas. He is also remembered with respect and friendship by his former wife Pat Wheeler of Tualatin.
A private remembrance gathering will be held in July. In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve’s honor may be made to Springfield Rotary Charitable Foundation, PO Box 55, Springfield, OR 97477.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.