A Great Plains young farm boy was named in honor of his Dad’s Navy buddy. The buddy pushed Dad away from a falling crane, rescued him from drowning when the ship reversed direction suddenly, toppling the maintenance crew into the water and deflected an overwrought officer. The two with the same name never met but they shared fearlessness, sharp awareness of surroundings and sense of duty to fellow travelers on their life journey.
His first grade teacher said, I can’t teach you, you are left handed. His father said, “I think he can learn better using his left hand. ” She moved grades with Wheels the next four years. In sixth grade he had a new teacher, who understood lefties and all things learning. Wheels knew him as Uncle Maynard and learning became a lifelong pursuit. Uncle Maynard was a lifelong hero!
Wheels asked high school classmate, Charlene, to work on an English assignment with him.
Her youngest brother sang ” Peanut setting on the railroad track . . .” without end, while they attempted to study. Afterwards, that little kid broke into “toot, to, peanut butter” every time he saw Wheels, who was unperturbed. Wheels ran track and still holds the state class D record in the 880 Relay with his cousin and two classmates.
In high school, he met the true love of his life — engines. He bought a 1947 Cushman scooter at age fourteen. He bought a second set of wheels at 15 for $65, a Model A, purchased new by his great uncle in 1929. It sets in his garage, as it looked when he bought it. Except the back seat Mom upholstered so he could drive his sisters to school. He always enjoyed showing off his Model A and also owns a Model T built from salvaged parts.
Diesel engines became his focus. He could tell you how any engine worked, the laws of physics behind the working, where it was manufactured and more. Enlisting in the US Army, Wheels was stationed in Germany servicing diesel components. He took leave to marry Charlene. They moved to Hanau in Germany, the first of five unknown cities that became home. When they left a year later, they had visited six different European countries and were lifelong travel and history buffs.
Wheels began his career in urban transit maintenance as a diesel mechanic in the capitol city. He was elected union steward, negotiated with the city and began working in administrative roles soon after. He recognized the value of computerized maintenance records for large fleets and was an early advocate for the change. “Wheels” served four different municipal entities in the Midwest.
Wheels loved being a dad to his two sons. Together they disassembled and reassembled every thing in the house, except the cat and the cook. They moved to the mountains where Wheels was Maintenance Supervisor for a large fleet of buses. And panned gold with his sons, in the mountains, on weekends. (Guess which one of those mustaches is real! )
Wheels was offered a position as Director of Heavy Equipment Maintenance for another urban transit authority. He didn’t believe the 5:30 am caller. Later, he verified a two hour time difference between states and called to accept. He retired after twenty-eight years. Wheels and Charlene visited 40 states, including Hawaii and Alaska with his sisters. The family returned to the Great Plains with blue skies, wide open spaces and large extended family.
Wheels was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia, due to Frontal Temporal Degeneration in 2019, although in hindsight it had begun before retirement. Wheels eventually became wheelchair dependent and silent. But his mind remained active and he understood what was said. Therapists helped him move, taught him to use an eye gaze device for communication, to swallow overcoming weakness caused by the inability to speak, to adapt to his changing world. Aides helped him prepare for the day. Justin lifted, drove, and did countless chores, Charlene provided care and coordinated the work of others, while researching, working with doctors and others to determine what would be most beneficial for Wheels. He had many other medical issues, with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma the last on the list. You Tube provided the thrum of engines that defined all of his life – trains, tractors, race cars, antique farm engines and more. He awoke every morning with a smile. Until April 14, 2024.
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Our wedding day was snowy, gloomy, muddy . . . as we drove out of town, the sun broke through the clouds in a brilliant burst of golden light. It was indeed a metaphor, an omen,and blessing.
While stationed at Ft. Belvoir, VA, Wheels tried to propose to Charlene in historic Washington, D.C. It was not to be. At a fountain, a gaggle of kids clamored for money. A stranger staggered toward a stone bench where they were seated. Wheels jumped up, the man changed course –“all right you can have her”. Finally, they caught the last bus and disembarked at Service Club #3. Wheels knelt on the sidewalk and said “Will you be my wife and partner? “ It was so.
The sentry, guarding motor pool behind the club, shouted the time out of the darkness, and added “All is well.” And so it was.