11/23/2025
💙
Quanah David Sampson Wheeler
September 15, 1997 - November 18, 2025
Quanah David Sampson Wheeler was born on September 15, 1997 in Lewiston, Idaho to Shawn Wheeler and Virginia Scott. He began his journey to his eternal home on November 18, 2025. He was an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe. His Nez Perce name is Saxlitamo Paaxamneewet, which means Dancing Owl.
Quanah grew up in Domebo Flatts, in Lapwai, Idaho. His childhood was spent with his siblings Jordan, Ashley, Xavier, and Keanon. The neighborhood was filled with his relatives and family. He enjoyed playing Tony Hawk and Halo. He loved to eat cereal. He was the “cereal killer” and his big brother Zay was the “cereal police”.
He attended the Nez Perce Tribe Head Start and the Lapwai Schools. He belongs to the Class of 2016. As a student, he was very smart and always respectful to his teachers and other students. His classmate/sister Betsy said she cannot remember one time that he was ever in trouble from a teacher. He was pretty quiet, but friends with everyone and he could always make everyone laugh with his funny comments and jokes. He enjoyed playing football for the Baby Wildcats and the Lapwai Wildcats. He was a dedicated fan of the Seattle Seahawks.
Quanah was an amazing outdoorsman, he was connected to the land and carried extensive knowledge of the Nimiipuu culture, gathering places, and hunting and fishing areas. He knew how to camp and spend long periods of time in the mountains. He was voted “Best Camper” when he attended youth camp. He enjoyed spending the full two weeks at the Wheeler Camp during Talmaks. He was a great teacher of the Nez Perce way of life, and would take the time to help others find medicine, teach them how to hunt and fish, and how to take care of what was harvested. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and gathering. It is a way of life that is no different than the way his ancestors lived since time immemorial, which the Nez Perce people secured in the 1855 Treaty.
He spent his teenage and adult years growing in friendship and love with Cece Alvarez. She was the love of his life. In 2015 they welcomed their son Quanah Wheeler Jr., and the three of them began their journey as a family. Quanah and Cece were White Bison Wellbriety Fire Starters where they co-facilitated Tuesday night meetings at Lapwai City Hall. They were integral with the “Wellbriety OG’s”, and helped get it off the ground. Cece entered her eternal home on March 28, 2024. Quanah and Cece trusted their sister Ashely with the most precious part of their lives, their only son. Quanah Jr. is blessed to be co-parented by Ashley & Bryndin and Quanah & Cece.
Quanah loved building sweat. He always prayed for others and made sure to sweat hot for those who couldn’t go, and for those who were suffering. He always kept a smile on everyone’s face. He wanted everyone to enjoy being at sweat. Domebo Flatts was his main sweathouse, but he also enjoyed sweating at Talmaks, Culdesac, Lee’s, and Macoy’s. His brother Baby Ted shared that Quanah loved to sing the Nez Perce hymns Blessed Assurance and Salvation, Oh The Joyful Sound (The Trail Song) during their rounds at sweat. He was always praying hard, always singing, every round.
Quanah had a strong spiritual walk, and he was always supportive of others on their own spiritual journey. It was never out of the ordinary for Quanah to attend meetings and services with his bro’s and his Dad. He spent many years traveling with the On Eagles’ Wings crew to attend Warrior Leadership Summit in Missouri. He spent time leading the Sunrise Service at Talmaks, and he was actively attending Northfork Presbyterian Church in Ahsakha. He was stepping into leading the church services, and was presiding for the Sunday messages. Quanah and his Dad were jumping into the Clearwater River in the early mornings before he would head to Northfork. He always looked refreshed and renewed afterward. He shared that the water was getting colder each time. Quanah did all of these things with commitment and intention, with a clear mind and pure heart.
Quanah worked for the Nez Perce Tribe Children’s Home as a Resident Mentor. This required 24/7 care for the children, including weekends, holidays and nights. He did a great job at providing the children with a safe place to stay connected to their culture and community. He wasn’t afraid to drive “Big Bertha” and take the kids on adventures. He even took the time to take the kids to the mountains and taught them how to dig. He did all of these things with a smile on his face.
Quanah was preceded in death by his mother Virgina Scott, the love of his life Cecelia Alvarez, his cousins Mitaat & Tana Moody, Quanah & Skylin Picard, Joseph & Isaac Wilson, James Oatman Jr., Great Grandfather Wallace Wheeler, and Great Grandmother Mary Jayne Garner. He is survived by his son Quanah Wheeler Jr. of Lapwai, his father Shawn Wheeler (Ayisha) of Lewiston, his siblings Jordan Shawn Wheeler of Portland, Ashley Kilwein (Bryndin) of Lapwai, Xavier Wheeler (Wahleena) of Kamiah, Keanon Wheeler of Lewiston, Edmond Wheeler, David Wheeler Jr., Selin Bisbee of Lewiston, Kendrick Wheeler of Dillon, Montana, his Granny Ida Ann Wheeler, his grandmother Ronda Spaulding (Steve), grandfather David Scott (Yvonne) , and his grandparents Adrian & Paula Moody, all of Lapwai.
Quanah was known for his genuine smile and his heart full of love and understanding for all. He held no judgement for anyone, and always had compassion for others. His younger brother Keanon shared that Quanah would always say “you don’t know what people are going through”. There are so many things to learn from this amazing man, and this might be the most important way to always honor his life and legacy.
A memorial service will take place on Monday, November 24, 2025 at 6:00 pm. The funeral service will take place on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 10:00 am. Both services will be held at the PiNeeWaus Community Center in Lapwai, Idaho. Burial will take place at the Nez Perce Tribal Cemetery, with a dinner to follow at the PiNeeWaus.
