Louis E. Wheeler, 41
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Louis Elwin Wheeler, 41, of 16 Estes St. died Saturday, Jan. 1, 2004, in the town of Florida. Born in North Adams on May 7, 1962, son of Mary Elizabeth Truesdell Wheeler of North Adams and the late John Edwin Wheeler, he was raised in the Drury section of the town of Florida and attended Gabriel Abbott Memorial School, then Drury High School, where he was a bass drummer with the band.
He resided in a number of locations around the country, returning to the Berkshires three years ago.
Mr. Wheeler had been employed with Champlain Masonry in Pittsfield. Before that, he worked for Seal Coating Corp. of Hingham, as a pyrotechnician for fireworks displays in Missouri and on a commercial fishing boat in Alaska. During the 1980s, he was employed with Horse Watch Inc., a guard service for horses stabled at some of the country's largest equestrian competitions, including the National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden and shows in Florida and Arizona. He made several suggestions for the horses' safety based on his experiences on a local farm in his youth.
He first worked in construction with his father's B&W Construction Co. in Florida and joined the Laborers' International Union of North America Local 473 in Pittsfield.
He was a member of Florida Baptist Church.
Besides his mother, he leaves three sons, Andrew Jason Maxymillian Wheeler of Monticello, N.Y., and Chase Allen Wheeler and Marshall-Louis Elwin Wheeler, both of Fayetteville, N.C.; four sisters, Melissa Ann Hightower of Allentown, Pa., Julia Dean of Milford, Pa., Teresa Culpepper of the town of Florida and Patricia Phillips of North Adams; four brothers, Michael David Wheeler of Williamstown, and Peter A. Wheeler, William H. Wheeler and John F. Wheeler, all of North Adams, and nieces, nephews, grandnephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
A brother, Timothy John Wheeler, is deceased.
FUNERAL NOTICE — The funeral for Mr. Wheeler will be conducted Thursday, Feb. 5, at 11 at Florida Baptist Church, Church Street, Florida, by the Rev. Irving Mullette, pastor.
Burial will take place at a later date at the convenience of the family in Church Cemetery, Florida. Calling hours at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., will be tomorrow, Feb. 4, from 5 to 8. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory are suggested through the funeral home.