Graham and Nell Wheeler
Graham was the third child and second son of Tom and Louie Wheeler, a hard working man who built a very successful farming business but also enjoyed a wide range of interests and international travel. Graham was always impeccably dressed, well spoken and he put a high value on good manners and polite behaviour. Like his older siblings, he was born in Auckland before the family moved to the Hauraki Plains, but completed his schooling in Ngatea after the move.
In August 1939 he married Ellen (always known as Nell) Ramsden. Nell was born in Leeds, had a bright smile, and always retained a chipper, down-to-earth friendliness, even when times were tough.
Like his brothers and sisters Graham learnt to work hard growing up on the farm, and after he left school during the war years he worked in Otahuhu at the cannery of the local meat works. Judith, Nell and Graham's only child, was born in Auckland in 1940, and after the war the small family returned to the family farm at Ngatea. Graham later purchased this farm from his father, and greatly expanded his farming operations with a substantial run off at Maramarua.
Before Nell died in 1988 they discovered travel and made many trips back to the United Kingdom - experiences his daughter Judith says were the highlights of his life.
Even after he retired from the farm to live in Auckland, Graham regularly returned to Maramarua to spend a few days each week on the land, and even when he became unable to drive he continued to take a very close interest in the farm with Judith as his driver. In his later years he remained intensely interested in the world around him, always ready to engage in conversation on current events, and taking part in social activities through a travel club and working in the garden.
Judith's family remember with fondness the visits to Graham and Nell's Auckland home for Christmas dinner and the Easter Show when "Nan Auckland" always made them warmly welcome.
Judith married Merv Finlay in 1962 check and they have three daughters - Angela, Maree and Natalie.
Graham's dates: Born 22 May, 1914, New Lynn Auckland
Died 15 June, 2010, Hillsborough, Auckland.
In August 1939 he married Ellen (always known as Nell) Ramsden. Nell was born in Leeds, had a bright smile, and always retained a chipper, down-to-earth friendliness, even when times were tough.
Like his brothers and sisters Graham learnt to work hard growing up on the farm, and after he left school during the war years he worked in Otahuhu at the cannery of the local meat works. Judith, Nell and Graham's only child, was born in Auckland in 1940, and after the war the small family returned to the family farm at Ngatea. Graham later purchased this farm from his father, and greatly expanded his farming operations with a substantial run off at Maramarua.
Before Nell died in 1988 they discovered travel and made many trips back to the United Kingdom - experiences his daughter Judith says were the highlights of his life.
Even after he retired from the farm to live in Auckland, Graham regularly returned to Maramarua to spend a few days each week on the land, and even when he became unable to drive he continued to take a very close interest in the farm with Judith as his driver. In his later years he remained intensely interested in the world around him, always ready to engage in conversation on current events, and taking part in social activities through a travel club and working in the garden.
Judith's family remember with fondness the visits to Graham and Nell's Auckland home for Christmas dinner and the Easter Show when "Nan Auckland" always made them warmly welcome.
Judith married Merv Finlay in 1962 check and they have three daughters - Angela, Maree and Natalie.
Graham's dates: Born 22 May, 1914, New Lynn Auckland
Died 15 June, 2010, Hillsborough, Auckland.