Terry Canfield Wheeler "Gramps" "Terrence" "Camp Terry" age 73, went to be with his Savior on November 5, 2021. Gone too soon but overjoyed to have avoided the jab. Terry was born in Glendale, CA, to Theodore and Katherine Wheeler on July 17, 1948. He was an entrepreneur at an early age. He graduated from West Covina High school in 1966. He was an avid sports guy that loved football and baseball. Being dubbed "The Jack of all Trades" his senior year. He joined the US Army where he served overseas and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. He was proud to serve his country with an honorable discharge in 1975. In the convening years, he worked various jobs in multiple areas.

Now on to the good years… He married Mary J. Forgette and moved to Humboldt County where they started their family. They were blessed with 8 children, 26 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He embraced the cowboy lifestyle spending many hours wrangling cattle on the Fountain Ranch. His years of work included various facets in the logging industry where he gained fire suppression experience, 25 years in the California Dept of Corrections involving some of his best years at Eel River Fire Camp and finding his natural niche as a bail bondsman. This came in handy for family discounts.

It was a sad day for In N Out, Arizona Iced Tea and Camel non "filties" who lost their most loyal customer. His passion for music, especially the 60's and 70's genre and worship music gave him great joy. Those who got to hear him sing were blessed by the voice God had given him. He loved to dance, even winning dance competitions in his early years. Terry always considered himself a Timid Spirit, non-confrontational, avoiding debates at all costs. Those being "Terrys words". However, we know that his devout stubbornness had served him well throughout his life and even into his waning weeks, he was a model of strong will and determination right up until Gods perfect timing called him home. He was a warrior who was true to himself and his Savior and an absolute savage to the end.

In 1976 his life was radically changed, and his many sins were washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. This catapulted him into a life of ministry that touched and transformed countless lives through his gifts of evangelism, his uncanny ability to memorize scripture and share the gospel. He had many years of prison ministry, street ministry and endless hours of in-home Bible studies that transformed so many. Baptisms, weddings and hours of counseling were some of his many traits as a minister and a teacher. Although he encountered some struggles and pitfalls of his own, his life was a good example of our need for Christ's grace. His trials gave him firsthand experience of the need for forgiveness. No matter how many times he fell off the horse he always got back on. This permitted him to connect and be real with people. He was always reminding us that "God is Faithful".

His true legacy is the family he leaves behind and the faith he has instilled in each and every one of us. His desire was for us to care and love for one another and to have each other's back, no matter what. He knitted us together to be united through adversity and taught us that family and faith in Jesus were the most important things in this life. Above all, that blood was thicker than water. He was an ever present constant in our lives. It will come as no surprise he ended every conversation with "I love you".

He was a veracious reader who especially loved Louis L'amour. He enjoyed playing hide and seek in the fields with his kids and spending summers with us in Lake Havasu where being on a pontoon boat brought him to life. We think he missed his calling of being a Pirate. After retirement, he relocated to South Dakota and spent his time splitting wood, riding horses, going to auctions and picking cherry tomatoes out of the garden. We are all truly grateful for the knowledge we gained through his years of storing and prepping for future survival. He was happiest when toodling around the property in his Gator, leaving a whirlwind of repairs behind him, with his sons-in-law in hot pursuit. His grandchildren's hunts, sports games and achievements brought him great joy, with which he would brag endlessly over. He shared his love of American history and the Constitution by teaching his grandkids what our forefathers and their great sacrifice provided for us. Special mornings spent reading historical events over eggs, toast and a tall glass of milk, have left a forever imprint on his grandkids. He was a master story teller who could weave a tall tale. He had a hearty belly laugh. He loved his freedoms and being patriotic. One of his hobbies was bringing cast iron pieces back to life.

He is survived by his siblings, Mike Wheeler (Virginia), Chris Rivera (Janell), and Robin Lipscomb (Bob). He lives on through his greatest legacy, his children, Brooke Wheeler Stokes (Joe), Windy Jankel Kelly, Kimberly Wheeler Harmon (Tony), April Wheeler Harkness (Steve), Ryan Wheeler (Kim), Ty Wheeler, Ben Wheeler (Kayla), and Ashlee Wheeler; his grandchildren, Mercedes "Sadie", Daniel, Taryn, Mariah, Christian, Paytn, Jake, Hunter, Hannah, Elijah "YiYa", Caden, Keyera "Keeks", Ben "Baby Ben", Kayla, Trynity "Tryn Tryn", Colter "Colt 45", Landen, Peyton "Little Peyton", Brody "Brodshow", Montana, Alli, Trapper "Traps", Easton, Branch, Sawyer "Gummyworm", and Boone; his great-grandchildren, Lukas, Linkin, Rowan, Lane, Rueka, and Roper.

He is preceded in death by his father, Theodore Wheeler; his mother, Katherine Morton; his sister, Penny Wheeler Browning.

Memorial services will be held at The Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD, at a later date.

He would encourage anyone he met to defend and fight for the 2nd Amendment.

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming "YeeHaw, What a ride!"

The Lakota would have known him as "Tatonka Woohitke" -Great Courage-

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved; through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."