Donald J. was born December 26, 1916 to John and Martha (Swift) Wheelan in Washington, Iowa. Don was the second child of a family of four, with Esther being the oldest, followed by Roberta and Paul R. (Mike) Wheelan. He was preceded in death by his father and mother. Don completed high school in Washington, Iowa and attended college at the Iowa University in Iowa City majoring in Economics. He worked in Washington, Iowa as an insurance agent. On October 6, 1941 he joined the Navy Cadet Flight Program in Glenview, Illinois. This program was divided into two parts; one half of the Cadet's time was spent in Ground School and the other half receiving flight instruction. He soloed in the standard service instruction plane, Stearman N2S and then was sent to Dallas where he attended a few weeks of ground school before being sent to a large training base in Corpus Christi. He loved to fly the Corsair, landing on the ships and traveling to many different bases. He received his commission of Ensign in 1941 and then was assigned to Norman, Oklahoma as a lieutenant and flight instructor. He received his discharge on August 9, 1946. Don then moved to Oklahoma City where he became an insurance broker at American National Insurance Company. In 1981 he married Maxine Beaver and resided in Midwest City until his death. He is survived by his wife, Maxine; his brother, Mike Wheelan and wife Donna of Washington, Iowa; two sisters, Esther Blaine and Bernard of Kansas City, Missouri, and Roberta Clark of Urbana, Illinois; many nieces and nephews as well as Maxine's sons, Dennis Beaver of Key West, Florida, Larry Beaver and wife Pam of Tulsa, and grandson Lee Beaver of Midwest City, as well as many relatives and friends.