BOX ELDER | Jack D. Wheeler, 61, passed away on January 10, 2015 after a long, courageous battle with cancer at his home in Box Elder with his family at his side. Per Jack's wishes, there will be no services and the family will hold a private memorial service at a later date. Jack was born in Gregory, SD to Jack and Dorotha (McCollum) Wheeler on September 3, 1953. He lived with his mother on his grandparents' farm for two years while his father served in the Korean War. Upon his father's return from Korea, Jack and his parents lived in Winner, SD for a time before moving to Chamberlain, SD where he grew to manhood. Jack loved life! He loved cars, motorcycles, hunting, powdered sugar donuts, and most of all snakes! He had an excellent work ethic and learned this working with his uncles after the 1972 Rapid City flood. He worked construction for several companies for 22 years before starting his own concrete construction company. Jack had a great passion for ranching and a respect for his animals. In 1972, he married Eileen Stewart and they moved to Rapid City so Jack could work with his uncles, Delano and David, building houses. In 1974, they were blessed with a baby girl, Cindy, who was joined by a baby brother, Ben, in 1975. Then, in 1979, baby brother Jesse was born. For a time, the family lived and milked cows on uncle's John and Floyd's farm. Between all this, Jack found time for taxidermy, auto body, cows, horses, hunting trips to Alaska, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, and South Dakota, and family camping trips to The Tetons, Estes Park, and Big Bend Dam. Jack was an inspiration to his children, family, and many friends to the very end. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2013 and was given only a few months to live. He battled this terrible disease with great fortitude and determination to fulfill his goals. He always set goals and accomplished most of them, even a bucket list item of going to see the whales. He was always willing to help others and was always happy with the successes of others regardless of how things were going for himself. Jack was a loving son, husband, father, and grandpa. Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Eileen; daughter, Cindy (Bob) Burdick; sons, Ben Wheeler and Jesse (Shelley) Wheeler; four grandchildren, Robert and Elijah Burdick, Maevi and Raymond Wheeler; sister, Donna Dominiack; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, an infant brother, and uncles. Jack is dearly loved by his family and friends and we will miss him very much.