Fr Wayne is the oldest of 5 sons of Wayne and Elizabeth (Betty) Wheeler. Growing up in Nunica and Spring Lake Michigan, he was a parishioner of St. Mary Parish, Spring Lake. He attended Nunica Public School through 2nd grade and St. Mary Elementary School. He entered St Joseph Minor Seminary in 1967 for High School and graduated in 1971 as Salutatarian. College education comprised of Aquinas College (Grand Rapids) and the University of St. Thomas (Houston, TX) where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1974. Next, he attended St John Provinical Seminary where he earned his M. Div. (1978) and University of Detroit earning an M.A. (1977); both with the distinction of Magna. Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Grand Rapids on November 3, 1979, he has served as an Associate Pastor at St. James (Grand Rapids), St Simon (Ludington), Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids), and St. Patrick (Portland). Between Holy Spirit and St Patrick, he had the priviledge of 2 years advanced studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium. He has served as Pastor at St. Patrick (Parnell), St. Paul Campus Parish and St. Mary (Big Rapids). Now back at the parish he prayed to serve as pastor while in college and served as an Associate, Fr. Wayne is pleased to be serving here at St Simon Parish! (He notes he has lived here longer than anywhere else in his life!)