Gertrude H. Wheeler, age 97, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on December 19, 2025. Born on February 18, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan, she was the only child of the late Karl and Martha Knack. She was affectionately known as Gertie among her friends.

Gertrude’s early life was spent in Detroit, where the Great Depression hit hard. When her father contracted tuberculosis and was sent to a sanatorium, she and her mother managed to live on $3 a week from Aid for Dependent Children. Her mother helped make ends meet by cleaning houses in exchange for gifts of clothing and food.

When her father recovered and came home, the family took in factory worker boarders to help supplement their income. During World War II she remembers trading ration coupons with relatives and neighbors so everyone could purchase what they needed.

Gertrude graduated from Northeastern High School in Detroit in 1945. She attended Asbury Methodist Church and taught Sunday School there. One of her pupils was James Marsh who created a written language for the Martu Wangka tribe in Australia. Gertrude continued to pray for his work and keep up with his family for many years.

After high school, Gert worked at the Packard Motor Company as a typist. She left there to attend Wayne State University and study music. After a year at Wayne State, she took a job at Cass Technical High School where she worked in the office, registered adult students returning to classes, and kept books for the school store. During this time, she and her mother began attending Detroit First Church of the Nazarene and she made her first of many trips to the Indian Lake Campground in Vicksburg, Michigan.

While teaching elementary girls’ Sunday school at Detroit First Church, she met one of the boys’ Sunday school teachers, Aaron Wheeler. It wasn’t long before they began dating. They married in 1965 and had two children, Sue and David. They were married for 12 years before Aaron died of cancer.

Gert moved to Plymouth, Michigan where the family had begun attending Plymouth Nazarene Church. She raised her children there, worked in the Plymouth Christian Academy library, and continued to teach 6th grade Sunday School. In her 60s, she graduated to teaching adult Sunday School classes.

In her 80’s Gert moved to Van Wert, Ohio to spend more time with her grandchildren and attended the First United Brethren Church there. When her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren moved to Portage, Michigan in 2019, she moved with them and began attending Cross Community Church of the Nazarene.

Gert was known for being a lover of God, a prayer warrior, and a faithful friend. She enjoyed reading, Scrabble games, playing the piano, working cross word puzzles, studying the Bible, and spending time with friends. She is survived by her daughter, Sue (Matt), her son David, and her four grandchildren Erin, Daniel, Luke, and Emma Miller.

Her Celebration of Life service will be held at Cross Community Church of the Nazarene in Portage on Saturday, December 27 at 11 am. The family will receive visitors from 10-11 am prior to the service.

Memorials can be made to the Cross Community Church of the Nazarene missions and Centrica Hospice Care music therapy.

While at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please take time to sign Gertrude's guestbook and share your favorite memory with her family.

The Wheeler family is being cared for by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 409 S Main St, Vicksburg, MI, 49097 (269) 649-1697.