Avis Darlene Wheeler

Avis Darlene Wheeler, lovingly known as "Darlene" passed away on June 12, 2023, after a short stay in Hospice. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren supporting her through her journey.

Darlene was born October 4, 1933, in Edgewood, Colorado to Margaret (Barnes) and Ransom Duston.

On July 17, 1951, she married Harold Lloyd Wheeler just prior to Harold enlisting in the Navy to serve during the Korean conflict. The years that followed would find the couple traveling to San Diego where Harold was stationed. Later Darlene would return to reside back in Colorado while Harold was shipped out to serve his country. From this marriage, four daughters were welcomed by the couple: Avis, Candy, Tracy, and Dianne.

Darlene was mostly a homemaker, staying home to raise the children. Later, after the children were older, she opened "Darlene's Crafts" in Westminster, Colorado, and spent countless hours pouring, painting, and firing beautiful ceramic pots and beads and making macrame hangers.

In 1977, Darlene and Harold would retire and move to Canon City, Colorado where they made their final home.

Darlene was a member of the Church of Christ in Canon City. She met some of her greatest friends at the church and they would be a source of family to her when she lost her husband to cancer in 1995.

Darlene and her family spent countless hours camping, fishing, and hunting in the Colorado mountains and loved spending Saturday nights playing card games with close family. The family often took road trips to visit distant family relatives out of state and later she was fortunate to make some trips out of the country and cruise to Hawaii with her adult children after the loss of her husband. Fall was her favorite time of year and she always looked forward to the annual fall color drives with her family. Darlene loved watching and supporting the Colorado Rockies baseball team as well as the Denver Broncos, she also never missed a chance to attend local soccer games. Darlene had a love for music, and never missed attending the Canon City High School Tiger Ladies concerts; she was a member of the Fremont County Concert Association for many years and attended all the annual concerts with her friends. Darlene took pride in crocheting all her grandchildren and some of her great-grandchildren beautiful baby afghans. And though the family was spread out, if she could make the trip she enjoyed attending, holiday celebrations, graduations, weddings, etc.

Darlene is survived by her three remaining daughters Avis (Dean) Italiano; Candy (Leonard) Van Dyke; Dianne (Aaron) Seng and son-in-law Jerry Greenstreet; 13 grandchildren: Dean Italiano, Tony (Margaret) Italiano, Sonny (Lindsey) Italiano; Lee (Tasha) Van Dyke, LeRoy (Tanya) Van Dyke, Aaron (Virginia) Van Dyke, Kyle (Jessica) Van Dyke; Christopher (Rachael) Greenstreet, Amanda (Alan Paxton) Greenstreet, Breanna Greenstreet; Russell (Karleigh) Purcell, Brandt (Caitlyn) Purcell, Stephanie (Aaron Westbrook) Purcell; 21 great-grandchildren; and 4 great great-grandchildren.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Ransom Duston Jr.; and in May of 2021, her daughter Tracy Greenstreet.

Visitation/viewing will be Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 9 a.m. at the Church of Christ, 1718 Franklin Avenue, Canon City. Funeral services will immediately follow at 10 a.m. at the Church. The service will be officiated by Randy Woodfin. Internment Lakeside Cemetery, Canon City, Colorado 81212 to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to be made to the Pikes Peak Hospice of Colorado Springs.

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