Charles Brent Wheeler

Charles Brent Wheeler, 68, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at home in Potlatch. He was born in Baltimore to Herbert K. Wheeler Jr. and Jean Wood Wheeler on July 18, 1955, and they later moved to LaGrange, Ill., where he grew up. He played quarterback and cornerback at Lyons Township High School. He loved going to rock concerts and caving with his brother and friends.

Charlie resided in Oregon and Washington in the early 1990s and moved to Idaho in 1998. He was a jack-of-all trades and worked in multiple fields, including making traditional bows, a construction foreman, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and driving newspaper routes. He met the love of his life, Linda Olds, while they were working as CNAs at a nursing home; and, they were happily married for 20 years. Linda’s love for Charlie was evident during her compassionate care throughout his illness.

Charlie was an avid traditional bow hunter for 20 years, and he also hunted turkey and pheasant with a shotgun. Then, he exchanged his love for hunting to photography about 15 years ago. Charlie has been photographing birds and large and small mammals in Idaho, Washington, Montana and other favorite spots since then. His passion was photographing the Belted Kingfisher on the Palouse River, and he was known for that talent worldwide. He won a National Audubon Society award for one of his kingfisher photos, and he was known by some Audubon members as the King of Belted Kingfishers. He enjoyed spending time with his family. He loved Yellow Labs and raised and trained many as hunting dogs. He was a big fan of the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs and Dallas Cowboys. He loved hiking as well as traveling around the U.S., including the National Parks, with Linda in his pickup truck and camper.

Charlie is survived by his wife Linda Wheeler; stepdaughter Randi Stolz (Clayton), of Potlatch; stepson Gary Giebelstein (Siyuan); sister Barbara Sauber, of Phoenix; brother Kenneth Wheeler (Allison), of Madison, Ala.; three granddaughters; five nephews; and five grandnieces and grandnephews. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, brother Herbert K. Wheeler III of Clendenin, W.Va., and brother-in-law Daniel Sauber of Phoenix.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Palouse Audubon Society.