Remembering Dr. Joe Wheeler

Dr. Joseph Leininger Wheeler, a man whom millions long associated with the celebration of Jesus’ birth and the many heartwarming stories it inspired, passed away late last year. Fittingly, it was just a few days before Christmas. He was 89.

Friends of Focus on the Family will remember Dr. Wheeler’s bestselling “Christmas in My Heart” 30-volume anthology — a beloved tradition that was featured in Dr. James Dobson’s annual December newsletter.

With a Ph.D. in English from Vanderbilt University, “America’s Keeper of the Story,” as Dr. Dobson affectionately called him, was a longtime professor at Washington Adventist University. He was also cofounder and executive director of the international Zane Grey’s West Society — a nonprofit organization committed to preserving the work of the renowned author. 

It was in 1991 when Dr. Wheeler first approached a book acquisitions editor at the Review and Herald Publishing Association with the idea of a Christmas book filled with carefully curated stories. The editor named the first one after a booklet of Christmas memories she had given her own mom.

Homeschooled by a mother in an American family serving a mission in Latin America, Joe grew to appreciate the art of stagecraft — largely influenced by his mother who performed. In his heart of hearts, though, he especially loved writing, reading, and discovering captivating stories. It was that affinity which led him to study history as both an undergraduate and graduate student at Pacific Union College. Before pursuing his doctorate, he earned a master’s degree in English at Sacramento State University.

It was the late Diane Passno, Focus on the Family’s first female vice president, who brought Dr. Wheeler’s new book series to the attention of Dr. Dobson. In particular, Focus’ founder was deeply moved by a story titled, “The Tiny Foot,” and featured it in his 1993 Christmas letter.

In the moving account, a physician struggles with the delivery of a deformed baby and wonders whether the merciful thing to do would be to abort the child. But then a tiny foot appears upon delivery, and the stunning sight compels the doctor to proceed as planned. Years later, that same doctor encounters the now grown woman. She’s a highly accomplished musician and is playing a harp in a Christmas concert. 

The moral of the story is clear: Every life is sacred and worthy of protection.

That story made Joe Wheeler cry, brought tears to Dr. Dobson’s eyes, and was beloved, cherished, and remembered by friends of the ministry for years. 

I had the pleasure and privilege of first crossing paths with Dr. Joe in the fall of 2001. Serving as Dr. Dobson’s research assistant, I was tasked with working with Dr. Wheeler to settle on a story to highlight that year. He used to say picking a favorite story from so many was like singling out one of your many children. 

But Dr. Joe didn’t just give permission for Focus to republish a story each year. Each year he would personalize and give over a hundred books to Focus team members. He would then come down from his “mountain home” (as he called it) in Conifer, Colorado, in early December each year to hold a public reading for the staff from his latest edition. Concerned about winter weather, he insisted on arriving the night before, and even paid for a hotel room himself. 

Following his time with staff, he’d head to the Focus bookstore where he’d sit and sign his books all day long. 

Dr. Joe Wheeler didn’t just publish books about Christmas. His other collections included, “Great Stories Remembered,” “Heart to Heart,” and “The Good Lord Made Them All.” Over the course of his career, he published 109 books that sold over 1.5 million copies. 

When Dr. Wheeler transitioned from academia to his full-time publishing ministry, he said, “God booted me out of the classroom and into a full-time ministry of stories.” But the English professor educator-turned-storyteller wasn’t simply looking to entertain but enlighten. 

As Dr. Dobson often said, there’s a reason Jesus taught in parables. We love a good story. Many of God’s most profound truths can be missed — but resonate and remain in our hearts after reading or hearing about them via a well-told story.

Most importantly, Dr. Joseph L. Wheeler’s stories consistently pointed people to the author of the greatest story ever told about Jesus, the greatest man who ever lived.