Peggy Wheeler

Peggy Estelle Wheeler passed away from sudden heart failure on December 19, 2013, in her beloved Cancun, Mexico while vacationing with her loving husband, Matthew Wheeler. Peggy was born on January 11, 1954, in Tampa, Florida to Donald and Elizabeth Powers. Both have preceded her in death. Peggy grew up in the state of Washington, living in several cities. After high school, Peggy moved to Germany and worked for the Civil Service Court for the U.S. Government. For personal advancement, Peggy became a certified single-engine pilot. Peggy’s career in the telecommunications industry started in Junction City, Kansas in October of 1977, with United Telephone Company of Kansas. There she served in several positions during the next ten years, including Business Office Supervisor in Junction City and Outside Plant Manager in central and western Kansas. During the transition of the company from United Telephone to Sprint, she was promoted and moved to the Kansas City area, where she again served in several positions, including Network Project Planning, Manager-Nationwide Call Center and Director of Strategic Solutions-New Business. Peggy married Matt Wheeler in 1986 in Jamaica. After ending her first career with the birth of their second child in 1990, Peggy devoted her time to being a stay-at-home mom. She home-schooled her two children and participated in every aspect of their education including achieving first degree black belts. From that introduction to martial arts, blossomed an excitement and desire to learn Tai Chi. She began her journey to become a Tai Chi instructor in 2002 and was trained by Grandmaster Jinheng Li and Grandmaster Peter Hill, both of Phoenix. In the summer of 2005, she was certified as a fourth level instructor and began her second career and true passion, Topeka Tai Chi. From the start, her goal was to entertain, educate, and empower her students. She developed a local S.T.A.R. program for seniors as a church ministry outreach program for multiple churches. Currently, classes are held at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. She touched many lives through her classes or by just passing her on the street with her warm, loving nature. She will be greatly missed. Peggy leaves behind her loving husband, Matthew D. Wheeler; son Adrian P. Wheeler; daughter, Elizabeth Evanne Wheeler; her mother-in-law, Mary Ann Wheeler; three sisters, two brothers, three sisters-in-law, and two brothers-in-law. Family will greet friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. Her funeral service will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Peggy's name to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Big Brother/Big Sister, and Loving Hearts, sent in care of the funeral home.

Peggy Wheeler

January 11, 1954 - December 29, 2013