Fr. John Patrick Wheeler, CSB, entered eternal life on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the age of 86. We have received the following information:
Father Wheeler was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 15, 1939. He entered the Basilian Fathers Novitiate in Rochester, New York, studying for the priesthood. Father Wheeler attended Saint John Fisher College in Rochester, New York; the University of Detroit, Michigan; the School of Theology in Toronto, Ontario; and the Grand Seminaire in Paris, France. He was ordained a priest on December 14, 1968.
Fr. Wheeler served on the faculty at Detroit Catholic Central High School in Novi, Michigan.
Visitation and Vigil will be held in the Chapel of Saint Basil the Great, Catholic Central High School (27225 Wixom Road, Novi, Michigan 48374), Friday, December 19, 3-7 pm. Visitation will continue on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 9 AM until the time of his funeral Mass at 10 AM, at Saint James Parish, 46325 West Ten Mile Road, Novi, Michigan 48374.
Obituaries for clergy and religious who have lived or served in the Archdiocese of Detroit may be emailed to [email protected]. Obituaries are printed as they are submitted, but may be edited for grammar and style. Detroit Catholic reserves the right to refuse or edit any submissions.
