A local 鈥渄aredevil鈥� turned 100 this weekend while surrounded by his family.
Lionel James Wheeler was surprised when he showed up to what he thought would be a quiet lunch. When he opened the doors to his regular hang-out spot at the Royal Canadian Legion in 91大黄鸭 he was greeted by a room full of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, excited to wish him a happy birthday.
鈥淲e tricked him,鈥� said granddaughter Kerrie Wheeler.
She said that they had a small birthday celebration the night before, on the day of his actual birthday (Feb.19), so that he wouldn鈥檛 suspect anything.
Grandpa Wheeler, or 鈥淧apa funny鈥�, as he is called by the youngest members of the Wheeler family, is a joyful man who is full of energy and wit.
Lionel had three children with the love of his life, Palmila Wheeler. She passed away in 2010 and is remembered by her adoring husband and family. Together, they raised a family that loves the outdoors and prioritizes giving back to the community.
Grandpa Wheeler has had the 鈥減leasure鈥� of watching his close-knit family of 41 children, grand, great-grand and great-great-grand-children grow up.
鈥淚鈥檝e changed a lot of diapers in my life,鈥� joked Lionel.
鈥淚 basically grew up at my grandparent鈥檚 house,鈥� said Kerrie, who lived across the street from Papa funny. 鈥淗e never missed a track meet.鈥�
He taught most of the people gathered in the Legion Centre how to ski and ride a bike and spent many hours towing them around behind his bike before they could pedal themselves.
He was very involved in the outdoor community in Lumby and Revelstoke, volunteering with trail maintenance, at the ski hill and coaching sports teams.
Lionel has been active his whole life and said that he was still riding his bike last summer. He played for the Lumby Flying French Men hockey team, coached and raced nordic skiing and completed a yearly 100km nordic ski marathon every year.
Lionel said he isn鈥檛 one to brag but he did jump the famous Revelstoke Ski Jump, North America鈥檚 largest at the time. He said that he spent his winters on the mountain and his summers mountain biking, swimming and canoeing around Lumby and then Revelstoke. He said he missed skiing but was carving up the slopes with his great-grandkids until a few years ago, at the age of 92.
When he wasn鈥檛 on an outdoor adventure, Lionel worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway out of Revelstoke. He settled down in the mountain town to raise a family with his wife after serving in the army. He has been living independently in 91大黄鸭-Lake Country for the past few years and still likes to go out and have a beer with 鈥渢he old guys.鈥�
Lionel did not disclose his secret to longevity but we can only hope that it doesn鈥檛 have anything to do with his favourite food鈥� liver and onions.
Jacqueline.Gelineau@kelownacapnews.com
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