MCLEANSBORO -- Daniel "Chico" Joseph Wheeler, 60, of Rocky Mount, N.C., died peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, in Duke Hospital surrounded by his family. He was born June 26, 1951, in McLeansboro, the son of Thomas Winfield Wheeler of Benton and the late Eleanor Greer Wheeler. Dan was a graduate of Johnston City High School. He attended Southern Illinois University and was a graduate of Kentucky School of Mortuary Science. He began his funeral service career in 1983 in North Carolina as an apprentice at Gay-Yost Funeral Home in Rocky Mount. Two years later, he joined Johnson Funeral Home in Rocky Mount as a funeral director, embalmer where he continued to serve the families of the Nash and Edgecombe County area for 11 years. Dan dedicated his life and career to serving others in their time of grief and bereavement. His compassion and desire to provide the fami-lies of Rocky Mount with a family-owned and operated funeral home led to the opening of Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home in 1999. Dan, along with his brother-in-law and long-time friend, Mike Woodlief, joined together to become partners in business and service. Dan's commitment to his profession gained him the respect of families in the community, as well as that of his colleagues in the funeral industry. Many will remember Dan for his quick wit and sense of humor. He was one of a kind. His antics left those who knew him with a smile on their face, laughter in their hearts and stories to tell of good times shared. Left to cherish his memory in addition to his father; are his wife, Donna Joyner Wheeler, of the home; brothers, Tommy D. and wife, Lynda Wheeler, of Buckner, Steven W. and wife, Elizabeth Wheeler, of Du Quoin, Wendell L. and wife, Kim Wheeler, of Carbondale and Scott V. and wife, Mary Miller Wheeler, of Rocky Mount, N.C.; father-in-law, Clarence L. Joyner of Rocky Mount, N.C.; sisters-in-law, Dianne J. and husband, Terry Hill, of Charlotte, N.C., Kay J. and husband, Dick Harward, of Indian Trail, N.C., and Janet J. and husband, J. Michael Woodlief, of Rocky Mount, N.C.; brother-in-law, Jerry and wife, Gwen Joyner, of Kittrell, N.C.; nephews, Thomas Jon (T.J.) and wife, Deanna Wheeler, of Tolono, Neill and wife, Niki Wheeler, of Raleigh, N.C., Connor Wheeler of Carbondale, Hylan Wheeler of Rocky Mount, N.C., Chris and wife, Sonya Hill, of Charlotte, N.C., Ryan Hill of Charlotte, N.C., Zachary Joyner of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Benjamin and Joshua Woodlief of Rocky Mount, N.C.; nieces, Dhana Dee Wheeler of Christopher, Brandis Wheeler of Raleigh, N.C., Macie Wheeler of Carbondale, Shelby Wheeler of Du Quoin, Carrie and husband, Greg Astroth, of Charlotte, N.C., Erin Woodlief of Charlotte, N.C., Lauren Joyner of Belmont, N.C., Shauna and Mollie Joyner of Kittrell, N.C., and Sarah Woodlief of Rocky Mount, N.C.; several great-nieces and nephews. Sincere appreciation is expressed to Duke Hospital 7200 Cardiac ICU team for their exemplary compassion and care. The family received friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, in the chapel of Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home with the Rev. Keith Griffin and Dr. Chet Rains officiating. Burial will be in Rocky Mount Memorial Park. Flowers are welcome or to honor Dan's love for animals, memorial contributions may be made to Animal Crackers Rescue-Rocky Mount, P. O. Box 8860, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, or at www.animalcrackers-rmt.org Condolences may be sent to the Wheeler family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winstead Ave., Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on January 15, 2012