Keith John Wheelahan

Keith John Wheelahan was born July 6, 1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  His early education was at Holy Name of Jesus School, Algiers.  He graduated from St. Aloysius High School and subsequently attended Loyola University and tranferred to the V-12 Navy Program at Tulane University.  Before entering his senior year at Tulane, he was sent to the Naval Midshipman School at Cornell University where he was commissioned Ensign, USNR.  After brief service at Pearl Harbor Naval Station he was released from active duty to complete his education at Tulane where he received his degree in Electrical Engineering in 1947.
The majority of his career was served at New Orleans Public Service in Industrial and Area Development.  He served as Vice President at System Fuels, Inc. and retired in 1990 from Entergy New Orleans.
Keith served as Chairman of the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives’ Association and several Chamber of Commerce committees. He also served on the Executive Boards of Goodwill Industries and Boy Scouts of America.
Keith was a long-time member of St. Dominic Catholic Parish and was an active member in the choir for over 50 years.  He was an adult leader for Boy Scouts programs and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Keith enjoyed his work in genealogy and introduced his family to extended family in Ireland, Germany, and Australia.  He brought together family from around the world and was considered the patriarch of the family. Many good times, celebrations, and prayers have been shared as a result of his love for family.
He is the son of the late Keith John Wheelahan, Sr. and Katherine Cecile Ibert Wheelahan.  He was the loving husband of the late Helen Rose Schick Beahr Wheelahan.  He was loved by and dearly influenced the lives of his children and their families, Keith John, III and wife Cindy, Sr. Mary Ellen, O. Carm., Jean Ann Vega and husband Gary, Timothy Michael and wife Diane, Nancy Louise Brauner and husband Emile and Jeffrey Ulrich.
Keith (Pops) was dedicated to his grandchildren, Matthew Wheelahan, Kelly Wheelahan Hermann (Rocky), Melanie Vega Cassidy (Bo), Brian Vega (Allison), Kevin Vega (Dana), Megan Wheelahan Descant (Jeremy), Mary Lauren Wheelahan Barcelona (Ben), Madeline Wheelahan Davison (Layne), Rachael Rose Brauner and Daniel Brauner (Ann). He is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren who were the light of his life for the past 14 years.  The joy he brought to each of his family members was based in his strong Catholic faith.
We invite you to join us in our joyous Mass of Christian burial at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 775 Harrison Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana on Friday, January 28, 2022.  Visitation will be from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home, 3827 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70119. To view and sign the guestbook, please visit schoenfh.com.
Keith had a love for Catholic Education and for the Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. It was Keith’s wish that donations be made to Mount Carmel Academy for the renovation of the Motherhouse. Checks may be made out to Mount Carmel Academy, mailed to 7027 Milne Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70124, and please note that your gift is in memory of Keith Wheelahan.  To make a gift online, please visit  https://www.mcacubs.com/giving/make-a-gift/tribute-gifts.

 

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