True Arnold Wheeldon

True Arnold Wheeldon, 69, passed away August 4, 2010 at Iowa Health Hospice Taylor House. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 8, 2010 from 4-6 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 9 at 2 p.m. in the chapel at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines with burial following at Resthaven Cemetery.

True was born on December 19, 1940 in Batavia, Iowa to Homer and Rebecca Wheeldon. He graduated in the class of 1958 from Cardinal High School in Batavia and then on to Northeast Missouri State (Truman State) to earn a teaching degree in 1964. In that same year, he married Janice Jackson and they made their home in Pleasant Hill where they lived for 36 years. True worked for American Republic Insurance for 37 years retiring in 2001 as Vice President for Policy Administration. After retiring, he worked at Younkers for 9 years in both the downtown and Southridge men’s departments.

True was a very positive person. He always looked for the best in others and treated each person with the respect he felt was due to every human being. Because of his warmth, kindness and helpfulness, he made the lives of those he touched a little easier and a little brighter. He also had many interests. He was a lifelong lover of automobiles, was a musician and played in a country music band “Cedar Creek Express” for many years. He was an avid golfer and woodworker and was active in Toastmasters, winning the Distinguished Toastmaster Award for the state of Iowa in 2004.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jan Wheeldon; son, Tim (Darcy) Wheeldon; daughter, Cheri (Dan) Hopkins; grandchildren, True Wheeldon, Sloan Wheeldon, Heath Wheeldon, Ella Hopkins, Fisher Hopkins, Naela Hopkins; siblings, Orpha Dodge, Marie (Paul) Hughes, Louise (Bill) Bishop, George (Hazel) Wheeldon, Mary Ruth Hanna, Donald Wheeldon; and several nephews and nieces.

He is preceded in death by his father, Homer Wheeldon; mother, Rebecca Wheeldon; brother, Vernon Wheeldon and daughter, Julie Wheeldon.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Taylor House Hospice, 3401 E. Douglas Ave., Des Moines, IA 50317. Online condolences may be made at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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