Katherine Eleanor Wilcox, 88, of Scandinavia passed away peacefully on Friday, December 7th at Bethany Home in Waupaca.
She was born in Waupaca to Walter Staub and Mary Ann Staub nee Fritz on July 20, 1930. On September 2, 1951, Katherine married Calvin Wilcox at the Scandinavia Lutheran Church Parsonage. Katherine and Calvin raised their family in New London before retiring and moving to the family homestead in Scandinavia.
Katherine enjoyed gardening, bird watching, researching the family genealogy, visiting with family and talking with long distance friends. She also traveled the world with Rick Steves on Wisconsin Public Television every week. Katherine took great pride in her Swiss heritage and enjoyed sharing the Little Swiss Chapel with visitors. She was especially proud of her family and their many special talents.
Katherine is survived by her two children; Steve (Sara) Wilcox of Scandinavia and Julie (James) Abbey of New London, seven grandchildren: Stephanie (Matt) Goli, Andrew (Angela) Wilcox-Hull, Alyssa Knapstein, Ronnie Knapstein, Jason Abbey, Jon (fiance Susie) Abbey, Jesse (Janet) Abbey; twelve great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren and long time family friend Jill. She is preceded in death by her parents Walter and Mary, her husband Calvin, and several brothers and sisters-in-law.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Voie Funeral Home in Iola at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 15th, with Reverend Mark Sabin officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday from 11:30 AM-1:00 PM. Interment of cremains will be in the Hobart Cemetery in the Town of Royalton at a later date.
The family would like to thank ThedaCare Hospice for taking such great care of Katherine over the last couple months as well as thank the staff of ThedaCare Waupaca Hospital and Bethany Home for their care over the last week. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of Scandinavia History, the Iola Historical Society, or Wisconsin Public Television.