As all of his brothers and sisters (and their father), he went by his middle name, Peter, shortened to "Pete". His first name, John, may have come from his grandfather, John William Wheeler. Pete was the fifth of thirteen children of James William "Bill" Wheeler and Lena Caroline von Keller. Growing up in a large family gave many opportunities for adventure and learning.

As a young man, John Peter traveled briefly with the circus, working with and attending to the horses. Pete always had a great love for animals, the out-of-doors and projects.

Having pioneer ideas, Pete and his younger brother, Louie went to Arizona in the early 1930's. They both homesteaded and claimed-up 160 acres of dessert west of Phoenix. They purchased 120 acres close by for their youngest brother, Oren. All three of the boys held their land all the rest of their lives. A little later in the '30's, the oldest brother, Adolphus "Hi" came to Arizona looking for work. Hi, Louie and Oren went over and got work on the construction of the Boulder Dam.

John Peter Wheeler and Lorraine Kynast were married in the 1930's at Florence, Arizona. They were married for three or four years before they divorced.

Pete was called to the service of our country to fight in World War II, from the Homestead in Arizona. Following service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Pete returned to Greensburg, Kansas. (Never seeing the Arizona Homestead again.)

On July 13, 1946, Pete married Opal Grace Logan, at Pratt, Kansas. They had twins John Ellis Wheeler and Johnna Grace Wheeler, born on Father's Day, June 20, 1948. His children were always the delight of his heart and more recently a great source of pleasure was his three grandsons, John Erick, Jerrod Allen and Jayland Dion Wheeler.

Employed as a carpenter and laborer, Pete worked on various building and construction projects in the Greensburg area. He worked on the Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Compressor engine building, the Co-op Grain Elevator, and the Greensburg Elementary School building. It was told by, Mr. Thompson that also worked on the Grain Elevator, that Pete was a strong, hard working man. Thompson said, "that Pete went at a slow pace, but at the end of the day, 8 to 12 hours later, Pete was still going at the same pace, never letting up." At the time of his retirement, because of health problems, Pete was employed by the City of Greensburg utility and maintenance department.

For more than 35 years the Wheelers have attended the Assembly of God Church, where Pete was a member of the Men's Bible Class. He enjoyed learning and had read the entire Bible through several times.