Elliott "Buck" Wheeland

Buck Wheeland, 88, died July 5, 2015 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born August 6, 1926 in Geneva, Illinois to Clara and Harry Wheeland and grew up in West Chicago.

He married Jeanne Kral on August 9, 1952. Buck served in the Navy during World War II and then went on to get a degree in education at Northern Illinois Teachers College. He continued his education at Northern Illinois University earning a master’s degree. Buck started his teaching career in 1950 at McHenry High School, transferred to Crystal Lake High School in 1956, and later taught at Cary Grove High School and Crystal Lake South, retiring in 1985. He loved teaching and peppered his lessons with wit and wisdom. He also coached wrestling and football. Buck was a passionate reader and in retirement volunteered at Crystal Lake Library. He also volunteered for fifteen years at Sage Cancer Center at Centegra Hospital in McHenry.

As a young boy he learned to fish from his uncle and enjoyed fishing all his life. Thanks to his father he was also a life-long Cubs fan. Buck was a loving husband, father and devoted Papa to his granddaughters.

Buck is survived by his wife Jeanne; daughters Linda (companion Eric Schlaf), Kathy (Jim) Lutz, Nancy (Ron) Partch, and Laura; granddaughters Carly (Ryan) Anderson, Melissa Lutz, and Lauren Partch; his brother Richard; and his sister Lois Hanrahan. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial visitation will be at Davenport Family Funeral Home & Crematory, 419 E Terra Cotta Ave, (Rt 176) Crystal Lake, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9th.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to JourneyCare Foundation, 405 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington, IL 60010 or online at www.journeycare.org.