Grand Master
Most Worshipful Brother Wade E. Sheeler
Brother Sheeler was born on September 16, 1960, in Newton, Iowa. He grew up in Monroe and is a graduate of Monroe Community High School. He graduated from Drake University where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration and a M.B.A. He also earned the professional designations of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified Risk Manager (CRM) and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). He recently retired from Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company. He and Danene Thompson were married on December 24, 1993, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. He has two stepdaughters, Andrea Smith and Kerrie Davis. He and Danene have one granddaughter and four grandsons. He is a member of the First United Methodist Church in Newton. He has been honored by being commissioned a Kentucky Colonel. He serves on the Jasper County United Way Board and is president of the Newton Rotary. He is a past president of the Iowa Chapter of CPCU and is a past national director of the CPCU Society. He is a graduate of the Leadership Iowa program.
Masonically, Brother Sheeler was raised on April 19, 1979, in Fairview Lodge #194 at Monroe. He was admitted to Newton Lodge #59 in 1989 upon consolidation. He served as Worshipful Master of Newton Lodge #59 in 2003 and is currently the secretary. He is a charter member of Legacy Lodge #678 in Des Moines, serving as Worshipful Master in 2011. He served Preston Lodge #218 in Prairie City as Worshipful Master in 2015. His service to the Grand Lodge of Iowa includes serving as Senior Grand Steward in 2005-2006 and Senior Grand Warden in 2009-2010. He has served on the Public Relations Committee 2006-2012, Committee on Division and Reference 2012-2013,2023-2024, and Chairman 2024-2025 and the Academy of Masonic Knowledge from 2012-2025. He served as Chair of the Iowa Masonic Cooperation Committee in 2015. He is a recipient of District Lecturers’ certificate #3097.
Other Masonic affiliations include Newton York Rite Bodies: Gebal Chapter #12 R.A.M., Malachi Council #55 R. & S.M., and Oriental Commandery #22 K.T. He is a past High Priest, Past Illustrious Master, and Past Eminent Commander. He is a member of the Holy Order of High Priesthood, Order of Thrice Illustrious Masters, and Iowa Past Commanders Association. He served as Eminent Prior of Charles Clyde Priory KYCH in 2016. He served as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Iowa in 2016-2017, Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council in 2017-2018, and Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter in 2018-2019. He is a recipient of the Knight of the Royal Arch from the Grand Chapter R.A.M. of Iowa, Knight of Ish Sodi from the Grand Council R. & S.M. of Iowa and the Distinguished Service Award from the General Grand Chapter R.A.M. International. He is a recipient of the Knight Commander of the Temple (KCT).
He is a member of Za-Ga-Zig Shrine. He is a past president and current secretary of the Shrine Past Masters’ Club. He is a member of Caddo Teocalli #17A Order of Quezacoatl and Des Moines Court #46, Royal Order of Jesters. He is past governor of Iowa York Rite College #37 and a recipient of the Order of the Purple Cross from the York Rite Sovereign College of North America. He is a past Grand Governor. He is a member and past patron of Newton Chapter #100 Order of the Eastern Star, Grotto, HADes Moines High Twelve Club #4, and the National Sojourners. He is a Past Preceptor of Last Supper Tabernacle XVIII, Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests.
He is a past Excellent Chief of Green Degrees Council #93 Knights Masons, Past Sovereign Master of Polaris Council #449 A.M.D., and Past Master of Iowa Research Lodge #2. He is a recipient of the Knight Grand Cross Red Branch of Eri from the Grand Council AMD. He served as Grand Superintendent of Iowa from 2013-2023. He is a member of St. Bartholomew Conclave Red Cross of Constantine and served as Puissant Sovereign during 2015-2016. He is a member and Grade XVIII of Iowa College SRICF. He is a past president of the South-Central MI-DL Club. He is a life member of Trinity Chapel #2, St. Thomas of Acon, Grand College of Rites, Stone City Assemblage Order of the Operatives (Grade VI), Order of the Scarlet Cord (VI), and the Royal Order of Scotland. He is a charter member and Past Master of Iowa Court #81 Masonic Order of Athelstan. He is a charter member of the George Washington Masonic Memorial Society.
He is a member of the Des Moines Valley of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. He is a past Venerable Master in the Lodge of Perfection and served as Master of Kadosh of the Consistory in 2020. He received his K.C.C.H. in 2007. He is a member of the Heritage Society of the Iowa Scottish Rite Masonic Foundation. He is a recipient of the Knight of the Double Eagle from the Des Moines Valley. In 2015 he received the Blosser Award for membership recruitment. He was coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary in Washington DC on August 22, 2017.
He received the Honorary Legion of Honor from the Order of DeMolay in 2015 and is a member and Past Commander of the Des Moines Preceptory Legion of Honor. He is currently serving as Vice President of the Iowa DeMolay Foundation.