John Woods Wheeler

June 29, 1958 - July 11, 2018

The family of John Woods Wheeler announces his passing on July 11, 2018, at the age of 60. He was the victim of a tragic bicycle vs pick-up truck accident in Concord. John was born on June 29, 1958 in San Rafael, California to David and Patricia Wheeler, the second son of three. He grew up in Walnut Creek and was a life-long native of the East Bay and San Francisco. John graduated from Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord and California State University, San Francisco with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History.

As a youth John worked at and loved the Alexander Lindsay Junior Museum in Walnut Creek. It was the museum and scouting that shaped his love for the outdoors. John traveled extensively, partaking in outdoor adventuring and toured much of Europe on his bicycle.

For over 15 years John was a bicycle messenger in San Francisco. He later developed his passion for jewelry crafting and design, collaborating with people and working with his hands. He started his own jewelry business and was a Market Street vendor in the city for many years.

John’s most recent job was as a bus tour guide in San Francisco, which he did brilliantly. He was a titan of the tourism industry, entertaining hundreds of tourists as he enlightened them with San Francisco’s diverse history. John’s wealth of knowledge of all things San Francisco was bestowed upon him by his family, who settled in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1850.

John spent a great deal of his life acting at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire and the Dickens Christmas Faire where he touched many lives over the past 40 years. He was also the Founder of the Neil Higgins Society, a 30-year-old neo-pagan brotherhood. He was one of the greatest abalone divers we will ever know and loved the ocean. He was the catalyst that always brought people together for so many amazing events and adventures and made everyone he encountered feel special. John was predeceased by both his parents, Patricia in 2013 and David in 2016. He leaves behind a daughter, Mara Wolfe-Wheeler of San Francisco, his brothers David (Marta) Wheeler of San Diego, and James (Annette) Wheeler of Alameda. He had four nephews and nieces, Matthew (Jennifer) Wheeler of San Jose, Laura (Patrick) Dunn of Los Angeles, Tommy (Ashley) Wheeler of San Diego, and Amanda Wheeler of Alameda. Besides his family, John’s life touched a wide circle of vary caring friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held for John at John McLaren Park, 116 John F. Shelley Drive, San Francisco, CA 94134, in the Group Picnic Area, on Saturday, August 18th, at 11am.