Rose Wilcox

Rose Marie Wilcox escaped the grip of Alzheimer’s dementia and was rescued by Jesus’ loving arms on January 18, 2025 at the age of 82. Rose was born at home in rural Keswick, Iowa on October 22, 1942 to Everett and Ellen Wade Chittick. She was the third oldest of their 17 children. Rose graduated from English Valley High School in 1961. She met Jimmy David Wilcox at a North English Creamery Picnic and were married on July 30, 1961 at the St. Paul Evangelical and Reformed Church in Sigourney. They shared 54 years together before he was called home in 2015.

Rose was a selfless, loving, caring wife, mother, grandma, great-grandma, daughter, sister, and friend. She worked at Amana Refrigeration for 39 ½ years in the packaging and paint departments, retiring in 2005. In retirement she mowed lawns and cemeteries. Rose was a life-long gardener, growing a variety of vegetables in her large garden every year. She also had fruit trees and several flower beds that adorned their acreage. Rose loved her family, working in her yard and gardens, baking, canning, classic country music, dancing, and being barefoot.

Rose is survived by two sons Jerry Wilcox of Delta, Jeff (Diana) Wilcox of Cedar Rapids, a daughter Anita (Alan) Sawyer of Oskaloosa, five grandchildren Autumn Wilcox (Mike Hildenbrand), Jesse (Amy) Wilcox, Anna (Patrick) Myers, Josh Sawyer, Adam (Sophia) Sawyer, eleven great-grandchildren, seven sisters LaVonne Brawner of Arroyo Grande, CA, Donna Cross of Cedar Rapids, Marlene Frasher of Marion, Ruth (Mike) Coulter of Hamilton, IL, Kay Trimpe of Williamsburg, Linda (Doug) Martin of Sigourney, Annette (Eddie) Yoder of Parnell, six brothers Sandy of Williamsburg, Jack of Millersburg, Dale (Darlene) of Williamsburg, Stan (Linda) of Williamsburg, Jim of South English, and Danny of Williamsburg, two sisters-in-law Maxine Chittick of Webster and Lisa Chittick of Ollie, many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers Gary, Ronnie and Bob, three brothers-in-law John Brawner, Gary Erie, and John Frasher, and two sisters-in-law Irmgard Chittick and Tina Chittick.

Memorials:
 St. Croix Hospice or What Cheer Opera House

Visitation: Thursday January 23, 2025 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Prairie View Church - Ollie. 
Memorial Service: Friday January 24, 2025 10:30 a.m. Prairie View Church - Ollie
Burial: Pleasant Grove Cemetery - Sigourney