Elizabeth Wilcox

Elizabeth “Beth” Pearl (Smith) Wilcox, 88 of Wautoma, passed away peacefully on February 10th at ThedaCare Medical Center-Wild Rose, WI surrounded by her loving family.  Beth was born June 7, 1930 in Milwaukee to the late Dwight Winfield and Phoebe Muriel Ethelene (Haase) Smith.

Beth graduated from Wautoma High School in 1948 and married Forest Wilcox on November 26, 1949 and they enjoyed 69 years of marriage.  They settled on the family homestead where they raised 5 children.

Beth worked at Ripon Good Cookies, Wautoma Hospital and with the Portage Project.  In later years she earned her CNA certificate and worked at nearby Nursing Homes. She was active in the Grace United Methodist Ladies Aide, Wautoma Hospital Auxiliary, Rural Rembrandts, Farm Bureau Women’s Group and was known as the family historian.  She was an advocate for their daughter Noel and all those with special needs, and was instrumental in starting the Waushara County A.R.C.

Beth was a proud homemaker and was well known for her flaky pie crust, schaum torte and cranberry crunch.  She not only found time to enjoy her family, she enjoyed reading, painting and writing and also loved to crochet, knit and hand stitch quilts.  She had a flair for art, creating many beautiful cards for her church’s “Sunshine Club” as well as personally for family and friends.

She is survived by her two sons: Paul (Janis) Wilcox, Lynn (Sun Yong) Wilcox; three daughters:  Jeanone Wilcox, Holly (Mark) Dahlke, Noel Wilcox; grandchildren:  Andrea (Jeff) Kleczka, Jennifer (John) Engel, Heidi Dahlke, Curtis (Melissa) Wilcox, Melissa Dahlke, Carrie Dahlke, Daniel Wilcox and Brenda Wilcox; great grandchildren: Brittani (Doug) Mayhugh, Destiny Dahlke, Jasmine Cardone, Abigail Dahlke-Raymond, Aidin Dahlke-Raymond, Jared Kleczka, Justin Kleczka, Kathryn Kleczka, Grace Wilcox, Brodyn Wilcox, Rhiannon Elendt, Timothy Elendt, Andrew Engel, Natalie Engel, Lewis Wilcox; one sister: Shirley Patzwald, one brother-in-law: Marlyn Wilcox and one sister-in-law: Delores Wilcox, other relatives and friends.  Beth was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and two brothers; Dwight Smith Jr. and Robert Smith and one sister; Marlys Crites, and one Great Grandson; Oliver Forest Wilcox.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 21st at Grace United Methodist Church, Wautoma at 11 a.m. The family will greet relatives and friends from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., just prior to the funeral service, with burial to follow at Maple Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family would be appreciated.