William “Bill” Cox, 73, Worthington, died Thursday, Feb. 13, 2003, at Worthington Regional Hospital in Worthington.
Services were Monday, Feb. 17, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Worthington. The Rev. Gerald Kosse officiated. Burial was Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in St. Paul.
William Cox was born to John and Anna (Loonan) Cox on Aug. 27, 1929, in Lismore. He attended St. Adrian’s Catholic School. He served his country during the Korean War from Nov. 15, 1951, and received his honorable discharge on Nov. 4, 1953.
He married Marie Koehne on Dec. 26, 1955, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Lismore. He farmed until 1989. He also was a custodian at the Adrian Elementary School. He retired from the school in 1996 and moved to Worthington in 1999.
Mr. Cox was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the St. Joseph Society. He was interested in all types of sports. As a young person he played baseball, basketball and softball. He loved to travel. He also collected toy trucks and tractors.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Cox, Worthington; seven children and their spouses, Vickie (Joel) Stokka, Kristi (Al) Fikse, all of Walker, Steven (June) Cox, Bill Cox, all of New Prague, Lori (Bruce) Spidel, Worthington, Jeff (Pam) Cox, and Ron (Patricia) Cox, all of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 17 grandchildren, Joy and Elizabeth Stokka, Jaclyn, Matthew, Steven and Patricia Cox, Jason and Chris Spidel, Melissa (Kevin) Geiger, Joann and John Gonzales, Lissann Cox, Amber, Stephanie, Samantha and Dustin Cox and Nicole Fikse; one great-grandchild, Tatiana Geiger; and two sisters, Lenora Watry, Adrian, and Rose Klein, Springfield, Mo.
Mr. Cox was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, James, Thomas, Robert and Wilfred Cox, one grandchild, Tyler Fikse, and one sister, Betty Steinhoff.
Dingmann Funeral Home, Worthington, was in charge of arrangements.
