Charles Herbert Wheeland, age 85, of Waterloo died on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Friendship Village in Waterloo. He was born on January 12,1941, in Lake City, Iowa, the son of Roger and Dorothy (Montillon) Wheeland.

Charles graduated from Newton High School with the class of 1959 and furthered his education at Coe College earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration 1963. Later in life, he attended the University of Northern Iowa earning a bachelor’s degree in archeology.

He was united in marriage with Jean (Jensen) Anderson on September 20,1986, in Waterloo.

Charles had a variety of occupations over the years after graduating from Coe College. He worked at Des Moines Central National Bank and managed the jewelry department at the first Target store in Roseville, Minn. He then moved to Turtle Lake, Wis., and opened his own small engine sales and repair shop called Countryside. Charles then moved back to Iowa and worked in sales and as a mechanic at a Suzuki dealership in Newton. He moved to Waterloo after marrying Jean where he sold insurance and eventually retired from a real estate career at Four Seasons Realty.

In his spare time, Charles enjoyed reading and studying American history and family genealogy. He was an accomplished photographer and sold nature photos to National Geographic and Hallmark. He was an active member of the Waterloo Elks Club where he served as Exalted Ruler and a past member of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra Board. Charles had also given his time to teach finance classes at Expo Alternative Learning Center and volunteer at Lou Henry Elementary School in Waterloo.

Survivors include: his wife Jean of Waterloo, daughter, Lynn (Mark) Eischens of Springfield Mo., stepdaughter, Elizabeth (Kevin) Giese of Glen Carbon, Ill., stepson, Steven Anderson of St. Peters, Mo., five grandchildren, Christopher (Lexi) Soltau of Springfield, Mo., Drew (Hannah) Anderson of St Louis, Mo., Andrea (Hailey) Greene of Arlington, Mass., Ethan Anderson and Sydney Anderson, both of St. Louis Mo., a great-grandson Zander, of Springfield, Mo.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Kenneth Giese.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.