Anna Marie Wheeler

Anna Marie “Ann” Wheeler, 89, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at home surrounded by her family. Visitation will be from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 26, at the Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee, and Monday, January 27, from 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. funeral at St. Rose Chapel in Kankakee. Burial will be in All Saints Cemetery in Bourbonnais, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Association for the Preservation of St. Rose Chapel, APSRC, P.O. Box 302, Aroma Park, Illinois 60910. She was born on March 8, 1935, the daughter of Walter and Emma Boucher Bertrand in Kankakee. She lived her entire life in Kankakee County. On June 19, 1954, she was joined in marriage to Gilbert E. Wheeler, Jr., at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. He proceeded her in death on September 20, 2011. Mrs. Wheeler and her husband owned and operated Adcraft Printers, Inc., for over 50 years, during which time their sons joined them in the business and are now the current operators. Mrs. Wheeler’s first priority was always her family. Along with her husband, Gib, she enjoyed antique automobiles, traveling, and bowling. She was a life-long parishioner of St. Rose of Lima Church before they closed and honored as a CCW Woman of the Year. She then attended St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Kankakee. She was a member of the Tuesday Book Review, KVSO, Kankakee Deanery, The Association of the Congregation of Notre Dame, a founding member and on the Board of Directors of The Association for the Preservation of St. Rose Chapel, and a charter member of the Kankakee Valley Vintage Car Club. Surviving are three sons, one daughter, one son-in-law and two daughters-in-law: Scott Wheeler (Robert Miller, III) of Quincy, Illinois; Dallas (Mary) Wheeler of Kankakee, Illinois; and Erik (Corinn) Wheeler of Herscher, Illinois; one daughter, Sherry Ashcraft Wheeler of Chicago, Illinois; twelve grandchildren: Brian (Marissa) Wheeler of Las Vegas, Nevada; Lauren (Darren) Evelsizer of Normal, Illinois; Houston Wheeler, and Tyler (Kayla) Wheeler of Kankakee, Illinois; Kaliegh (Tim) Yohnka of Momence, Illinois; Brandi (Garrett) Martin of Clifton, Illinois; Stefanie Wheeler of Chicago, Illinois; Darlene (Kyle) Hartman of Kankakee, Illinois; Faith Settles and Conner Settles of Herscher, Illinois; Eugene “Jimmy” (Caitlin Lipton) Scray, IV, and Stephen (Samantha) Scray of Chicago, Illinois; Anh Phan of Harrison, New Jersey; fourteen great-grandchildren: Addison and Colin Wheeler of Las Vegas, Nevada; Jackson and Leah Evelsizer of Normal, Illinois; Xander and Ezra Wheeler of Kankakee, Illinois; Elliot and Carter Yohnka of Momence, Illinois; Persephonie Hartman of Kankakee, Illinois; Tandon, Kaden, Kenna and Leo Martin of Clifton, Illinois; and Eugene “EJ” Scray, V, of Chicago, Illinois. Also surviving are in-laws Jacqueline Cross of Goodrich, Illinois, Mary (Tom) Turngren of Bourbonnais, Illinois; Rosemary Babinski of Bradley, Illinois; Barbara (Maynard) Denault of Kankakee, Illinois; many nieces and nephews and a host of special friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; a half-brother, Duane (Mary Louise) Bertrand; a daughter, Mary Wheeler; a son, Larry Wheeler; a foster son, Christopher McCormick; a granddaughter, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Scray; a great-grandson, Jordan Evelsizer; in-laws, Ted (Lois) Wheeler, Connie (LaVern) Denault, Dorothy (Vearl) Brouillet, Carson Cross, David (Marge) Wheeler, Richard Wheeler, Daniel Babinski, and Linda Patterson.

Anna Marie Wheeler

March 8, 1935 - January 15, 2025