obituaries

Janis Wheeler

St. Peters, MO |

Janis L. Wheeler, 77, of St. Peters, MO passed peacefully at 11:05 p.m., October 6, 2024, at McClay Senior Care.  Janis was born December 3, 1946, in Litchfield, Illinois, the only child of H. Eileen (Simcox) Wheeler and George H. Wheeler. 

Janis is survived by three 1st cousins Charles “Ronald”  Simcox (Carol), Godfrey, IL; Karen Cheatham (Jim), Imperial, MO; Tamra Oliver (Terry), Pine Mountain, GA; and Charlotte Simcox (Robert-deceased), St. Louis, MO; seven 2nd cousins; and ten 3rd cousins. She is also survived by her dearest friends, Elaine (Charles) Long and family of Galesburg, IL (54 years) and Jan Peery of St. Charles, MO (20 years.)

Janis attended schools in Alton and Bethalto, IL, graduating from Civic Memorial High School in 1965. She was subsequently admitted to Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing & School of Radiologic Technology in St. Louis and certified as a Radiologic Technologist (R.T.) after graduating in 1967.  She spent the majority of her working years as a R.T. at St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg and St. Therese Hospital, Waukegan in Illinois; and, at Grand Strand Hospital in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  During her 22 years of employment in Illinois Janis was a very active volunteer in the Illinois State Society of Radiologic Technologists. She held various positions within her district and established its first monthly newsletter, TechTalk. She went on to serve at the state level as editor of the Society’s quarterly journal, The Illini Tech, from 1974-1981. Janis also chaired two Annual Conferences and held the offices of President-Elect, President, and Chairman of the Board.  In 1988 she was honored with an invitation to present the Society’s Memorial Lecture at the joint Illinois/Indiana Annual Meeting in Merrillville, IN.  Janis returned to Missouri in 1994 and spent the remainder of her career employed as a production manager/editor at Medical Video Productions, St. Louis and then as a workman’s comp case manager for AIG insurance in Clayton. She retired in 2016.

Janis was always known for having a unique “wit” accompanied by a thoughtful and caring nature. She enjoyed adventures and was usually “up for anything!” She was a loving daughter who was devoted to her mother, but also loved her St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Bears, purses, shoes, watches and traveling. Her most memorable journey was a two-week Medical Mission trip to Guatemala with a group of other healthcare professionals from Galesburg in 1975. Janis will truly be missed by all who shared in any part of her personal or professional life experiences, but she will be missed most dearly by those who considered her life to be an integral part of their own.

Services for Janis will be held at Elias, Kallal and Schaaf Funeral Home in Godfrey, IL on Saturday, October 12, 2024.  Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a celebration of life to follow at 10:30 a.m. 

Interment will follow at Valhalla Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in the name of Janis L. Wheeler to: Faith United Methodist Church, 2950 Droste Rd., St. Charles, MO 63301; or, to BJC Hospice in care of The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 1001 Highlands Plaza Drive West, Suite 140, St. Louis, MO, 63110, or online at www.foundationbarnesjewish.org/Give-Hospice.

Online condolences and guest book may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com.


Obit Provided By:
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home

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