By VANESA BRASHIER
Updated: 04.07.09
The City of Cleveland lost a veteran firefighter and 30-year fire chief last Monday. Fire Chief Steve Wheeler, 55, was killed in a shooting incident at a second home he and his wife, Angie, owned on Pelican Road off FM 787 in Tarkington.
At this time, his death is under investigation by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
Sources say Wheeler had a single gunshot wound to the chest, believed to have been inflicted by a 9 mm. handgun. Friends of Wheeler say he had just purchased the gun three weeks ago and may have been trying to clean the weapon when it discharged. They say he also had planned to get his concealed handgun license.
Wheeler's wife, Angie, discovered her husband's body in a chair in the small wood frame house. Friends say Wheeler and his wife had planned to build a new home on the site in the future and that he had been working on a fence on the property the day before.
On the night of his death, as his body was taken to Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Cleveland before being taken to Beaumont for an autopsy, the procession of emergency vehicles drove past Fire Station No. 2. Firefighters, friends and concerned residents paid silent tribute to the beloved Wheeler as the body van passed.
By Tuesday, firefighters from around the area were volunteering their services to relieve the Cleveland firefighters in their time of grief.
Wheeler worked for Cleveland VFD as chief for more than 30 years and had been the EMS director for more than a dozen years. He joined the City of Cleveland in 1982 when he became inspector and safety supervisor. In 1999, he became fire marshal and EMS supervisor. He also was director of emergency management for the city and had been a tremendous help during hurricanes Ike and Rita.
Wheeler is being remembered as a champion for the fire and emergency medical services departments. He recently had helped the fire department receive funding for two part-time firefighters, a goal he had been trying to achieve for years.
Regardless of the circumstances around Wheeler's death, at his funeral Thursday at Cornerstone Church in Cleveland, he was remembered not for the last tragic day, but for his life of service to the community.
Among those who spoke of him at his funeral was his brother, Jack, who talked about Wheeler's early life growing up in a house of seven children.
"People ask you in your life what you are and what you've accomplished," said Jack Wheeler, looking around the room at all those who gathered to pay their respects to the fallen fire chief. "Steve was a gift. He was so kind and giving."
He paused, then added, as only a sibling can, "And he was a brat! He was our grandparents' favorite."
Recalling his brother's red freckled face and red hair, Jack chuckled as he remembered happier times.
"When he was in high school, Steve worked at a grocery store and had to go in the attic for something. He fell through the acoustical ceiling and fell into a woman's grocery cart. It was like he was falling from heaven," said Jack. "To a lot of people in this town, that's what it's like, like he fell from heaven."
Jack, who lives in Oklahoma, talked about a visit to his parents' home in Cleveland in which he sat with his dad and looked over articles and papers about Steve and his accomplishments.
"Looking at all that, I felt so insignificant," said Jack Wheeler.
The late fire chief's brother also asked for the public to give his brother the benefit of the doubt as law enforcement officers continue their investigation.
"There are a lot of stories out there, but from our family, we want you to know Steve was a kind, wonderful, loving person and this accident — accident — shouldn't have happened," he said.
Though they didn't speak at Wheeler's funeral, some of his closest friends — Jerry Oliver and John Davis with Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department, and Greg Miller with Cleveland EMS — are certain that Wheeler's death was an accident, too, and not a suicide as it has been reported by other media.
They are still trying to come to grips with how they will go on without Wheeler and how many people it will take to keep up with all he did for the community.
Miller spoke about Wheeler last week, the day after his death. He talked about joining Cleveland EMS 12 years ago after being hired by Wheeler. Somewhere along the way, the two became close.
"He quit being just my boss years ago," said Miller. "He was my friend."
Wheeler's funeral was attended by hundreds of firefighters and EMS workers from around the area.
Estimates say that between 700-800 people were in attendance at the funeral and dozens more paid respects to Wheeler at the family visitation the evening before.
Even more paid tribute to Wheeler as the long procession of fire trucks and emergency vehicles made its way through Cleveland en route to the cemetery, passing both fire stations along the way. Wheeler's flag-draped coffin was carried aloft a Cleveland VFD fire truck. He was flanked on each side by his fellow firefighters.
Flags at businesses along the route to the cemetery were lowered to half-staff as a sign of respect.
Some folks lining the streets carried signs saying, "We love you, Steve Wheeler," and "God bless you." Others held American flags and some simply saluted or removed their hats.
Construction sites came to a standstill, traffic in town stopped moving and shops emptied as customers stepped outside to watch.
Once at the cemetery, the tributes to Wheeler continued, first with an honor guard removing the American Flag from the coffin and handing it over to Cleveland VFD Assistant Chief Jerry Oliver, who presented it to Wheeler's widow and children.
One custom at firefighter funerals is the final ringing of the fire bell. At Wheeler's graveside service, the final bell ringing was followed by another custom known as "final call."
Almost as soon as the sound of the bell faded, at once the radios and pagers of all Cleveland firefighters and EMS personnel began to go off.
Then a voice came over the radios saying, "Dispatch Cleveland Fire Unit 1. Fire Unit 1, please respond. Fire Unit 1, Steve Wheeler, please respond."
Updated: 04.07.09
The City of Cleveland lost a veteran firefighter and 30-year fire chief last Monday. Fire Chief Steve Wheeler, 55, was killed in a shooting incident at a second home he and his wife, Angie, owned on Pelican Road off FM 787 in Tarkington.
At this time, his death is under investigation by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
Sources say Wheeler had a single gunshot wound to the chest, believed to have been inflicted by a 9 mm. handgun. Friends of Wheeler say he had just purchased the gun three weeks ago and may have been trying to clean the weapon when it discharged. They say he also had planned to get his concealed handgun license.
Wheeler's wife, Angie, discovered her husband's body in a chair in the small wood frame house. Friends say Wheeler and his wife had planned to build a new home on the site in the future and that he had been working on a fence on the property the day before.
On the night of his death, as his body was taken to Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Cleveland before being taken to Beaumont for an autopsy, the procession of emergency vehicles drove past Fire Station No. 2. Firefighters, friends and concerned residents paid silent tribute to the beloved Wheeler as the body van passed.
By Tuesday, firefighters from around the area were volunteering their services to relieve the Cleveland firefighters in their time of grief.
Wheeler worked for Cleveland VFD as chief for more than 30 years and had been the EMS director for more than a dozen years. He joined the City of Cleveland in 1982 when he became inspector and safety supervisor. In 1999, he became fire marshal and EMS supervisor. He also was director of emergency management for the city and had been a tremendous help during hurricanes Ike and Rita.
Wheeler is being remembered as a champion for the fire and emergency medical services departments. He recently had helped the fire department receive funding for two part-time firefighters, a goal he had been trying to achieve for years.
Regardless of the circumstances around Wheeler's death, at his funeral Thursday at Cornerstone Church in Cleveland, he was remembered not for the last tragic day, but for his life of service to the community.
Among those who spoke of him at his funeral was his brother, Jack, who talked about Wheeler's early life growing up in a house of seven children.
"People ask you in your life what you are and what you've accomplished," said Jack Wheeler, looking around the room at all those who gathered to pay their respects to the fallen fire chief. "Steve was a gift. He was so kind and giving."
He paused, then added, as only a sibling can, "And he was a brat! He was our grandparents' favorite."
Recalling his brother's red freckled face and red hair, Jack chuckled as he remembered happier times.
"When he was in high school, Steve worked at a grocery store and had to go in the attic for something. He fell through the acoustical ceiling and fell into a woman's grocery cart. It was like he was falling from heaven," said Jack. "To a lot of people in this town, that's what it's like, like he fell from heaven."
Jack, who lives in Oklahoma, talked about a visit to his parents' home in Cleveland in which he sat with his dad and looked over articles and papers about Steve and his accomplishments.
"Looking at all that, I felt so insignificant," said Jack Wheeler.
The late fire chief's brother also asked for the public to give his brother the benefit of the doubt as law enforcement officers continue their investigation.
"There are a lot of stories out there, but from our family, we want you to know Steve was a kind, wonderful, loving person and this accident — accident — shouldn't have happened," he said.
Though they didn't speak at Wheeler's funeral, some of his closest friends — Jerry Oliver and John Davis with Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department, and Greg Miller with Cleveland EMS — are certain that Wheeler's death was an accident, too, and not a suicide as it has been reported by other media.
They are still trying to come to grips with how they will go on without Wheeler and how many people it will take to keep up with all he did for the community.
Miller spoke about Wheeler last week, the day after his death. He talked about joining Cleveland EMS 12 years ago after being hired by Wheeler. Somewhere along the way, the two became close.
"He quit being just my boss years ago," said Miller. "He was my friend."
Wheeler's funeral was attended by hundreds of firefighters and EMS workers from around the area.
Estimates say that between 700-800 people were in attendance at the funeral and dozens more paid respects to Wheeler at the family visitation the evening before.
Even more paid tribute to Wheeler as the long procession of fire trucks and emergency vehicles made its way through Cleveland en route to the cemetery, passing both fire stations along the way. Wheeler's flag-draped coffin was carried aloft a Cleveland VFD fire truck. He was flanked on each side by his fellow firefighters.
Flags at businesses along the route to the cemetery were lowered to half-staff as a sign of respect.
Some folks lining the streets carried signs saying, "We love you, Steve Wheeler," and "God bless you." Others held American flags and some simply saluted or removed their hats.
Construction sites came to a standstill, traffic in town stopped moving and shops emptied as customers stepped outside to watch.
Once at the cemetery, the tributes to Wheeler continued, first with an honor guard removing the American Flag from the coffin and handing it over to Cleveland VFD Assistant Chief Jerry Oliver, who presented it to Wheeler's widow and children.
One custom at firefighter funerals is the final ringing of the fire bell. At Wheeler's graveside service, the final bell ringing was followed by another custom known as "final call."
Almost as soon as the sound of the bell faded, at once the radios and pagers of all Cleveland firefighters and EMS personnel began to go off.
Then a voice came over the radios saying, "Dispatch Cleveland Fire Unit 1. Fire Unit 1, please respond. Fire Unit 1, Steve Wheeler, please respond."
By VANESA BRASHIER
Updated: 04.07.09
The City of Cleveland lost a veteran firefighter and 30-year fire chief last Monday. Fire Chief Steve Wheeler, 55, was killed in a shooting incident at a second home he and his wife, Angie, owned on Pelican Road off FM 787 in Tarkington.
At this time, his death is under investigation by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
Sources say Wheeler had a single gunshot wound to the chest, believed to have been inflicted by a 9 mm. handgun. Friends of Wheeler say he had just purchased the gun three weeks ago and may have been trying to clean the weapon when it discharged. They say he also had planned to get his concealed handgun license.
Wheeler's wife, Angie, discovered her husband's body in a chair in the small wood frame house. Friends say Wheeler and his wife had planned to build a new home on the site in the future and that he had been working on a fence on the property the day before.
On the night of his death, as his body was taken to Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Cleveland before being taken to Beaumont for an autopsy, the procession of emergency vehicles drove past Fire Station No. 2. Firefighters, friends and concerned residents paid silent tribute to the beloved Wheeler as the body van passed.
By Tuesday, firefighters from around the area were volunteering their services to relieve the Cleveland firefighters in their time of grief.
Wheeler worked for Cleveland VFD as chief for more than 30 years and had been the EMS director for more than a dozen years. He joined the City of Cleveland in 1982 when he became inspector and safety supervisor. In 1999, he became fire marshal and EMS supervisor. He also was director of emergency management for the city and had been a tremendous help during hurricanes Ike and Rita.
Wheeler is being remembered as a champion for the fire and emergency medical services departments. He recently had helped the fire department receive funding for two part-time firefighters, a goal he had been trying to achieve for years.
Regardless of the circumstances around Wheeler's death, at his funeral Thursday at Cornerstone Church in Cleveland, he was remembered not for the last tragic day, but for his life of service to the community.
Among those who spoke of him at his funeral was his brother, Jack, who talked about Wheeler's early life growing up in a house of seven children.
"People ask you in your life what you are and what you've accomplished," said Jack Wheeler, looking around the room at all those who gathered to pay their respects to the fallen fire chief. "Steve was a gift. He was so kind and giving."
He paused, then added, as only a sibling can, "And he was a brat! He was our grandparents' favorite."
Recalling his brother's red freckled face and red hair, Jack chuckled as he remembered happier times.
"When he was in high school, Steve worked at a grocery store and had to go in the attic for something. He fell through the acoustical ceiling and fell into a woman's grocery cart. It was like he was falling from heaven," said Jack. "To a lot of people in this town, that's what it's like, like he fell from heaven."
Jack, who lives in Oklahoma, talked about a visit to his parents' home in Cleveland in which he sat with his dad and looked over articles and papers about Steve and his accomplishments.
"Looking at all that, I felt so insignificant," said Jack Wheeler.
The late fire chief's brother also asked for the public to give his brother the benefit of the doubt as law enforcement officers continue their investigation.
"There are a lot of stories out there, but from our family, we want you to know Steve was a kind, wonderful, loving person and this accident — accident — shouldn't have happened," he said.
Though they didn't speak at Wheeler's funeral, some of his closest friends — Jerry Oliver and John Davis with Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department, and Greg Miller with Cleveland EMS — are certain that Wheeler's death was an accident, too, and not a suicide as it has been reported by other media.
They are still trying to come to grips with how they will go on without Wheeler and how many people it will take to keep up with all he did for the community.
Miller spoke about Wheeler last week, the day after his death. He talked about joining Cleveland EMS 12 years ago after being hired by Wheeler. Somewhere along the way, the two became close.
"He quit being just my boss years ago," said Miller. "He was my friend."
Wheeler's funeral was attended by hundreds of firefighters and EMS workers from around the area.
Estimates say that between 700-800 people were in attendance at the funeral and dozens more paid respects to Wheeler at the family visitation the evening before.
Even more paid tribute to Wheeler as the long procession of fire trucks and emergency vehicles made its way through Cleveland en route to the cemetery, passing both fire stations along the way. Wheeler's flag-draped coffin was carried aloft a Cleveland VFD fire truck. He was flanked on each side by his fellow firefighters.
Flags at businesses along the route to the cemetery were lowered to half-staff as a sign of respect.
Some folks lining the streets carried signs saying, "We love you, Steve Wheeler," and "God bless you." Others held American flags and some simply saluted or removed their hats.
Construction sites came to a standstill, traffic in town stopped moving and shops emptied as customers stepped outside to watch.
Once at the cemetery, the tributes to Wheeler continued, first with an honor guard removing the American Flag from the coffin and handing it over to Cleveland VFD Assistant Chief Jerry Oliver, who presented it to Wheeler's widow and children.
One custom at firefighter funerals is the final ringing of the fire bell. At Wheeler's graveside service, the final bell ringing was followed by another custom known as "final call."
Almost as soon as the sound of the bell faded, at once the radios and pagers of all Cleveland firefighters and EMS personnel began to go off.
Then a voice came over the radios saying, "Dispatch Cleveland Fire Unit 1. Fire Unit 1, please respond. Fire Unit 1, Steve Wheeler, please respond."
Updated: 04.07.09
The City of Cleveland lost a veteran firefighter and 30-year fire chief last Monday. Fire Chief Steve Wheeler, 55, was killed in a shooting incident at a second home he and his wife, Angie, owned on Pelican Road off FM 787 in Tarkington.
At this time, his death is under investigation by the Liberty County Sheriff's Office.
Sources say Wheeler had a single gunshot wound to the chest, believed to have been inflicted by a 9 mm. handgun. Friends of Wheeler say he had just purchased the gun three weeks ago and may have been trying to clean the weapon when it discharged. They say he also had planned to get his concealed handgun license.
Wheeler's wife, Angie, discovered her husband's body in a chair in the small wood frame house. Friends say Wheeler and his wife had planned to build a new home on the site in the future and that he had been working on a fence on the property the day before.
On the night of his death, as his body was taken to Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Cleveland before being taken to Beaumont for an autopsy, the procession of emergency vehicles drove past Fire Station No. 2. Firefighters, friends and concerned residents paid silent tribute to the beloved Wheeler as the body van passed.
By Tuesday, firefighters from around the area were volunteering their services to relieve the Cleveland firefighters in their time of grief.
Wheeler worked for Cleveland VFD as chief for more than 30 years and had been the EMS director for more than a dozen years. He joined the City of Cleveland in 1982 when he became inspector and safety supervisor. In 1999, he became fire marshal and EMS supervisor. He also was director of emergency management for the city and had been a tremendous help during hurricanes Ike and Rita.
Wheeler is being remembered as a champion for the fire and emergency medical services departments. He recently had helped the fire department receive funding for two part-time firefighters, a goal he had been trying to achieve for years.
Regardless of the circumstances around Wheeler's death, at his funeral Thursday at Cornerstone Church in Cleveland, he was remembered not for the last tragic day, but for his life of service to the community.
Among those who spoke of him at his funeral was his brother, Jack, who talked about Wheeler's early life growing up in a house of seven children.
"People ask you in your life what you are and what you've accomplished," said Jack Wheeler, looking around the room at all those who gathered to pay their respects to the fallen fire chief. "Steve was a gift. He was so kind and giving."
He paused, then added, as only a sibling can, "And he was a brat! He was our grandparents' favorite."
Recalling his brother's red freckled face and red hair, Jack chuckled as he remembered happier times.
"When he was in high school, Steve worked at a grocery store and had to go in the attic for something. He fell through the acoustical ceiling and fell into a woman's grocery cart. It was like he was falling from heaven," said Jack. "To a lot of people in this town, that's what it's like, like he fell from heaven."
Jack, who lives in Oklahoma, talked about a visit to his parents' home in Cleveland in which he sat with his dad and looked over articles and papers about Steve and his accomplishments.
"Looking at all that, I felt so insignificant," said Jack Wheeler.
The late fire chief's brother also asked for the public to give his brother the benefit of the doubt as law enforcement officers continue their investigation.
"There are a lot of stories out there, but from our family, we want you to know Steve was a kind, wonderful, loving person and this accident — accident — shouldn't have happened," he said.
Though they didn't speak at Wheeler's funeral, some of his closest friends — Jerry Oliver and John Davis with Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department, and Greg Miller with Cleveland EMS — are certain that Wheeler's death was an accident, too, and not a suicide as it has been reported by other media.
They are still trying to come to grips with how they will go on without Wheeler and how many people it will take to keep up with all he did for the community.
Miller spoke about Wheeler last week, the day after his death. He talked about joining Cleveland EMS 12 years ago after being hired by Wheeler. Somewhere along the way, the two became close.
"He quit being just my boss years ago," said Miller. "He was my friend."
Wheeler's funeral was attended by hundreds of firefighters and EMS workers from around the area.
Estimates say that between 700-800 people were in attendance at the funeral and dozens more paid respects to Wheeler at the family visitation the evening before.
Even more paid tribute to Wheeler as the long procession of fire trucks and emergency vehicles made its way through Cleveland en route to the cemetery, passing both fire stations along the way. Wheeler's flag-draped coffin was carried aloft a Cleveland VFD fire truck. He was flanked on each side by his fellow firefighters.
Flags at businesses along the route to the cemetery were lowered to half-staff as a sign of respect.
Some folks lining the streets carried signs saying, "We love you, Steve Wheeler," and "God bless you." Others held American flags and some simply saluted or removed their hats.
Construction sites came to a standstill, traffic in town stopped moving and shops emptied as customers stepped outside to watch.
Once at the cemetery, the tributes to Wheeler continued, first with an honor guard removing the American Flag from the coffin and handing it over to Cleveland VFD Assistant Chief Jerry Oliver, who presented it to Wheeler's widow and children.
One custom at firefighter funerals is the final ringing of the fire bell. At Wheeler's graveside service, the final bell ringing was followed by another custom known as "final call."
Almost as soon as the sound of the bell faded, at once the radios and pagers of all Cleveland firefighters and EMS personnel began to go off.
Then a voice came over the radios saying, "Dispatch Cleveland Fire Unit 1. Fire Unit 1, please respond. Fire Unit 1, Steve Wheeler, please respond."
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