The Death of My Father and Lifelong Businessman

  Wayne Wheeler—the Antenna Man—died on Christmas Day 2022, in Newport, at 88 years old.

  Wayne’s life, including his thriftiness, arose out of the economic challenges of the Great Depression. He was blessed with a dry Vermont wit. For most of his life, he was fortunate to have amazing health, peddling his bike 1,000 miles a summer until about three years ago. In the final months of his life, he’d often say he lived 85 great years. As for his last three years of his 88 years, when his health was failing him, he said he could have done without those years, but he made the best of them.

 Born on October 24, 1934, in Newport to William “Sam” and Marie (Davio) Wheeler, he was the next to the youngest of nine children. At the time of his death, he was the last surviving member of his generation.

 Never one to fear work, Wayne’s work life began when he was growing up on Hoskins Avenue in Newport. He peddled vegetables from the family’s large garden and eggs from the family’s flock of chickens, going door-to-door in the neighborhood. And he was a “pin boy” in two area bowling allies, one in the heart of Newport Center and another on Main Street. This was in the days before there were automatic pinsetters. That job was left up to pin boys like Wayne.

 On December 31, 1953, during his senior year at Newport High School, he and his brother Irwin installed what would be the first of countless thousands of television antennas that Wayne would go on to install. They erected it on their parents’ house so the family could start the New Year watching the Rose Bowl. Next thing he knew, he had a sideline job installing antennas for family, friends, and neighbors.

 After graduating from high school in 1954, Wayne served a four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force. Upon returning home, he began work at Butterfields (now Tivoly) in Derby Line while serving part-time in the Vermont Army National Guard, which he eventually retired from. He worked at Butterfield during the day and installed antennas after work, sometimes in the dark of night. All three of his sons recall occasionally being recruited at young ages to hold a flashlight so he could see during these evening affairs.

 During a visit to Jay’s Snack Bar, a popular eatery in Derby at the time (where the Cow Palace is today), he met a young waitress from Irasburg, Pauline (Simino) Wheeler. One thing led to another, and the couple married on June 20, 1959, a love which produced three sons.

 After about 15 years of working at Butterfields, Wayne decided to quit that job and go into full-time self-employment as the “Antenna Man” with Pauline. He was eventually joined in the business by oldest son, Jeffrey, who operates the business today. They also installed many of the very first satellite television antennas in the region. Wayne retired from the antenna business on December 31, 2019, at 85 years old, 66 years to the day he’d installed his first roof top antenna.

  Wayne and Pauline took tremendous pride in their children and their families. They went near and far to attend their sporting events or anything else they were involved in. And they enjoyed traveling in general, and they loved family gatherings.

 In addition, Wayne loved all things history, especially Northeast Kingdom history. And he enjoyed sharing that knowledge. He was also a lifelong antique collector, always wheeling and dealing. Wayne also served for many years on the Newport Planning Commission, where he was known as a champion of the underdog.

 When Pauline died on September 12, 2013, after 54 years of marriage, Wayne was lost. He’d lost his sidekick in life. However, love would come again. For the last eight years, he has been partners with Diane Saxton, who quickly became an important member of the Wheeler family.

 Wayne is survived by sons: Jeffrey of Newport Center; Scott of Derby, and Kevin and his wife, Tammy, of Orleans. He is also survived by grandchildren: Curtis Wheeler and his wife, Gabrielle (Brooke and Daniel), of New Sweden, Maine, and Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Nicholas Wheeler and his wife, Abby Isleborn, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Emily Brugman and her husband, Robert, of Marquette, Michigan (Lucas, Annabelle, Henry, and James); Jordan Wheeler of Orleans (Kenadi, Spencer, and Hudsen); Aaron Wheeler of Newport Center (Weslee); and Jeffrey Hensley and his wife, Sophie Deslandes, of Johnson. He is also survived by his partner, Diane Saxton, and former daughter in law, April Wheeler.

 In addition to his wife, he was also predeceased by his daughter-in-law Penny Wheeler.

  Without a doubt, his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, will be sharing stories about Wayne for decades to come.

A celebration of life will be held at a later, undetermined date.

People interested in donating in his name may send donations to the Pope Frontier Animal Society at 4473 Barton-Orleans Road, Orleans, VT 05860.