George Mathas Wheeler, 82, of Rockham, SD, passed away surrounded by family on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield, SD.

As per George’s wishes, he has been cremated. There will be a time to celebrate his life with his family at 10:30 am on Tuesday, May 27, at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield with Pastor Melissa Rowenhorst officiating. Burial, with military honors, will take place at Rockham Grace Cemetery in rural Rockham following the service. After the burial, there will be lunch and fellowship at the Rockham Community Center.

George’s service will be live-streamed on the funeral home’s website below his obituary. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com).

George was born in San Jose, CA, on April 11, 1943, to Monroe and Addie (Elrod) Wheeler. He was the youngest of five children.

He graduated from Santa Cruz High School on June 5, 1964. He also lived in Taft, CA, Santa Cruz, CA, and Big Bear Lake, CA. He worked for the phone company for 30 years, and worked on crank phones, dial phones, and push-button phones. Just before retiring, they came out with cell phones.

In 1995, he moved to Rockham and worked at the South Dakota Developmental Center in Redfield for 13 years.

Even though George had five failed marriages, he met the love of his life in 2006. He and Donna Funk were married on March 2, 2011. He always said, “She keeps me young.”

He enjoyed raising and watching his (girls) chickens. If he wasn’t in the house, you could find him sitting in the yard watching the chickens, even naming some!

George enjoyed riding his “lawn tractor” mower in the yard, working on cars and trucks, and changing oil on anything he owned, to work outside and play.

He also enjoyed camping, riding motorcycle, and just driving to look around.

George loved spending time with his family. He would drop what he was doing to make time to visit and have “a few.” He would talk about his life growing up and the things he did through the years.

George is survived by his wife Donna Wheeler of Rockham; sons: Jimmy Wheeler of Bryan, TX and Michael Wheeler of Redfield; step-children: Connie Driver of Pierre, SD, Melisa Genzler of SC, Sherry Rothacker of Redfield, Scott Genzler of Redfield, Terri Martin of AR, Michael Genzler of SC, John Stegmann of Redfield, and Jennifer Martin of Redfield.  He is also survived by his niece Charlene Manes; and many cousins, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Monroe and Addie; brothers: Vernan (Fran) and Allen; sisters: infant, Ella Jo and Revonna Manes; and nephew Jeff Manes.