John Martin Wheeler

John Martin Wheeler

John Martin Wheeler (82) affectionately called “Wheels” by his many friends, passed away peacefully July 25th 2025.

John led an incredible active life, spreading friendship, positivity, and service to so many. Born June 12,1943 in East Grand Rapids Michigan, he grew up in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood. After his graduation from Ripon College in Wisconsin, he spent his life in Seattle, mostly living in the Leschi Neighborhood with his closest friend and dear wife of 45 years, Anne Durbin. He and Anne were an amazing team with so many shared interests: skiing, hiking, biking, boating, river rafting, attending all the local theater groups especially outdoor Shakespeare in the Park, the Opera, Ballet and art exhibitions, but most of all they loved being with their many friends enjoying all that the Northwest has to offer. Always intellectually curious, he loved a great discussion on almost any subject. John had a wonderful sense of humor and it would be hard to picture him without a big infectious smile on his face.

At Wheels’ large festive 80th birthday party organized by friends at Seattle Yacht Club/Elliott Bay, many gathered from across the country and from across his rich life. A number of boyhood/lifelong friends told wonderful stories eliciting great laughter from John and all in attendance. Memories were shared of his time at Ripon College, and of high jinks and travels as a young man. Many thanks were expressed in speeches and in a memory book in appreciation for John’s help in starting their businesses or in working to make them successful.

At the 80th celebration, we watched videos of John in his favorite element, skiing with Anne and his many, many ski buddies. John’s greatest passion was for skiing and he never had a ski day that was less than “The Best Ever”. He was a ski instructor in his 20’s at Alpental. He taught Anne to be a wonderful skier and to love the sport. He could always give positive ski pointers to those needing some help. Though he skied at just about every area in the Western US and Canada, his favorite skiing was at Whistler where he had been a “lifty” at the T-Bar when Whistler was a small five-lift backcountry ski area. He took great joy in being part of the Whistler/Blackcomb growth into a world class resort and sharing time there with friends. He and Anne were at Whistler every Thanksgiving and Spring “CAOS” bi-annual ski trip. He loved that he was the first paying customer to ride the Garbanzo Express lift and that he had once skied Whistler Mountain down from the top in full moonlight. He, Anne and friends often enjoyed summer skiing at Timberline. In his 60’s and 70’s he was again instructing skiing, this time for kids. Wheels’ smile was infectious and never broader than when on the slopes.

Wheels also loved sailing and besides cruising in the San Juans and NW waters, he was a key member of a fun and successful Cal 40 crew that for years sailed all the Puget Sound races and culminated in the 1980 Victoria-Maui race across the Pacific. At the 80th his buddies from the crew reunited to share yarns and to sing a custom song about what made Wheels so unique. Crew members told of John’s bravery at the top of the mast, in a midnight squall in the middle of the ocean.

John attained an MBA from the University of Washington and used this and his business acumen working with such well known Northwesterners as Dale Chihuly and Bruce McCaw. In school and early in his career he did part time taxi driving not just to make extra money but to meet and have interesting conversations with diverse people. His true business calling and joy was in utilizing his incredibly positive attitude and his desire to serve others while working to make a number of entrepreneurial small business owners successful. In the later-part of his career, his consulting company “Wheels in Motion” brought small business owners together to form Boards of Directors for their companies in order to help each other succeed. Through it all he made great and lasting friendships and was an enduring example of business ethics and professionalism.

Our kind beloved Wheels passed away after a multi-year battle with declining health instigated by a concussion from a fall, causing additional falls over time that eventually led to his stay in an adult family home when it became too difficult for Anne to continue to take care of him. Through this entire ordeal, even to the end, John maintained his sweet disposition and positive attitude. He passed only a month after Anne had passed away from incurable cancer.

John, much loved and admired, was a magnet for people and was a close and cherished friend to so many. At his 80th party he expressed how the party was not about him but was about bringing people together, which is something he did all his life. This authentic remarkable guy and devoted friend will be truly missed.