Cecil Cox
July 22, 1924 — August 8, 2015
Cecil Joseph Cox, son of Richard and Olive (Schroeder) Cox, was born on July 22, 1924 in Breda, Iowa. Cecil was baptized and confirmed into the Catholic faith. He attended Wall Lake High School and graduated with the Class of 1941.
Cecil was drafted into the United States Navy on March 8, 1945 and served during World War II as a Hospital Apprentice First Class until his honorable discharge on May 7, 1946. His plans of going to school to be a dentist changed when he married Evangeline Klocke on May 6, 1945 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dedham, Iowa and settled down on the farm. Six children were born to this union: Loryce, June, Allen, Jeff, Richard and Peggy.
Cecil rented farm ground in Carroll County for several years after returning from the military. In 1964, they bought their first farm east of Harlan and farmed until 1981. After they moved to town, Cecil rented out most of his ground but continued to farm a few acres for himself. After the death of his wife, he remained in their home until March of 2015 when he moved to Elm Crest Retirement Home.
When Cecil wasn’t on the farm, he enjoyed playing card games such as Euchre, Cribbage, Pinochle and Pitch. He loved watching sports and followed the Harlan Cyclone replays on television. He also enjoyed going to his children’s and grandchildren’s activities.
Cecil died on Saturday, August 8, 2015, just seventeen days after his ninety-first birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brothers William and Marvin Cox, and his sisters Thelma Meister and Maxine Neaves.
He is survived by his children: Loryce and her husband Mike Patterson of Omaha, Nebraska, June and her husband Jerry Behrens of Denison, Iowa, Allen Cox and his wife Patty of Harlan, Iowa, Jeff Cox and his wife Shirley of Liberal, Kansas, Richard Cox and his wife Colleen of Omaha, and Peggy and her husband Gary Larson of Winterset, Iowa; twenty-one grandchildren; forty-eight great-grandchildren; sixteen great-great grandchildren; special friend Gladys Walters of Harlan; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Cecil was drafted into the United States Navy on March 8, 1945 and served during World War II as a Hospital Apprentice First Class until his honorable discharge on May 7, 1946. His plans of going to school to be a dentist changed when he married Evangeline Klocke on May 6, 1945 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dedham, Iowa and settled down on the farm. Six children were born to this union: Loryce, June, Allen, Jeff, Richard and Peggy.
Cecil rented farm ground in Carroll County for several years after returning from the military. In 1964, they bought their first farm east of Harlan and farmed until 1981. After they moved to town, Cecil rented out most of his ground but continued to farm a few acres for himself. After the death of his wife, he remained in their home until March of 2015 when he moved to Elm Crest Retirement Home.
When Cecil wasn’t on the farm, he enjoyed playing card games such as Euchre, Cribbage, Pinochle and Pitch. He loved watching sports and followed the Harlan Cyclone replays on television. He also enjoyed going to his children’s and grandchildren’s activities.
Cecil died on Saturday, August 8, 2015, just seventeen days after his ninety-first birthday. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brothers William and Marvin Cox, and his sisters Thelma Meister and Maxine Neaves.
He is survived by his children: Loryce and her husband Mike Patterson of Omaha, Nebraska, June and her husband Jerry Behrens of Denison, Iowa, Allen Cox and his wife Patty of Harlan, Iowa, Jeff Cox and his wife Shirley of Liberal, Kansas, Richard Cox and his wife Colleen of Omaha, and Peggy and her husband Gary Larson of Winterset, Iowa; twenty-one grandchildren; forty-eight great-grandchildren; sixteen great-great grandchildren; special friend Gladys Walters of Harlan; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
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