Rev. Msgr. David A. Wheeler
Deceased: 2009-03-26
Diocese: DUBUQUE
Seminary Graduation Year: 1953
CSM Graduation Year: 1961
Monsignor David A. Wheeler, P.A., 81, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, died Thursday, March 26, 2009, at Villa Raphael, 1155 Mount Loretta Ave.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 30, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, with the Most Rev. Jerome Hanus, OSB, officiating, and the Rev. Donald Klein as homilist. Burial will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Dyersville. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the church, where there will be a scripture service at 7 p.m. today. Friends also may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church. The Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, Dubuque, is in charge of arrangements.
He was born on March 25, 1928, son of William and Esther (Laughlin) Wheeler, of Newhall, Iowa. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque and completed his theological studies at North American College in Rome. He was ordained on Dec. 20, 1952, at the Church of St. John Lateran in Rome by Cardinal Clement Micara.
After a one-year assignment as secretary to Archbishop Henry J. Rohlman, he was assigned as an associate of St. John The Evangelist Parish in Independence and All Saints Parish in Rowley. In 1955, he was named vice chancellor for the archdiocese, also serving as chaplain at St. Anthony’s Home in Dubuque.
Monsignor Wheeler studied canon law at The Catholic University in Washington, D.C., 1956-1958, returning to the archdiocese in 1958 as judicial vicar, serving in that position until 1968. He continued to serve in various positions in the Metropolitan Tribunal for the rest of his life.
He earned his doctorate in canon law from the Angelicum in Rome in Rome in 1961. He served as chaplain at Mount St. Francis in Dubuque, 1967-1968; pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Petersburg, 1968-1971; and pastor of the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, 1971-1981; also serving as dean of the Dyersville Deanery, beginning in 1973.
He was named and instituted a prelate of honor (monsignor) in 1974. He served as pastor of St. Joseph The Worker in Dubuque, 1981-1986, and of All Saints in Cedar Rapids, 1986-1991, also serving as dean of the Cedar Rapids Deanery, 1986-1991. He was appointed pastor of St. Mary’s in Vinton in 1991, and St. Joseph’s in Dysart in 1992. In 1993, he was appointed promoter of justice for the Archdiocese of Dubuque. He served as vicar general and episcopal vicar for the Dubuque region, also serving as chaplain at Mount Carmel Motherhouse and as a member of the College of Consultors, 1994-1999. He retired on July 13, 1999. He was named protonotary apostolic in 2004.
Surviving are a brother-in-law, Vernon Boddicker; nieces and nephews; and his brother priests.
A Rev. Monsignor David A. Wheeler, P.A., Memorial Fund has been established in care of the Rev. Douglas J. Loecke, 411 Fourth Ave. NW, Cascade, IA 52033-0699.
