Former KC Mayor Charles Wheeler moving after foreclosure [The Kansas City Star]

Oct. 02--Former Kansas City Mayor Charles Wheeler said Tuesday he looks forward to moving to a one-story Waldo house now that his Loose Park-area home has been foreclosed on and sold.

Wheeler, 87, said the move should happen in the coming weeks after his wife, Majorie, completes a course of rehabilitation at Bishop Spencer Place.

"It feels good to be able to get her down on the first floor where she can get outdoors more often," Wheeler said.

Wheeler, who served as mayor for two terms in the 1970s, has found himself in financial trouble in recent years as his wife struggled with health issues and he fell behind on making property tax and insurance payments as part of a reverse mortgage agreement.

The mortgage holder eventually foreclosed and a Texas firm bought Wheeler's current home Monday for $399,000 on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse.

James B. Nutter Sr., whose company wrote the reverse mortgage, said he was happy the episode has concluded.

"This is a good thing," Nutter said. "He'll be in a place he should be."

Pat O'Neill, who owns a Kansas City public relations business, said that he, the Nutter family and other long-time Wheeler friends have worked with the former mayor to smooth the transition.

"The move to a comfortable, more manageable home will make Charlie's and Marjorie's lives a whole lot better, which is what we all want for them," O'Neill said.

To reach Mark Morris, call 816-234-4310 or send email to mmorris@kcstar.com.

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