John Wilcox April 22, 1926 – January 16, 2019 Share this obituary Send Sympathy Gifts Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card John Oswel Wilcox, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2019 a few months before his 93rd birthday in Milo, Idaho at his daughter’s home. He was born on April 22, 1926 in Goshen, Idaho the third of four children to Samuel Orris Wilcox and Sarah Amelia Peterson. John spent his early years in Goshen with his family on the farm.
When he was only four years old, his mother passed away. His father moved John and his sisters, Helen and Esther, to “Sunnydell” Archer, Idaho, where aunts and cousins stepped in to help raise the children. He loved spending summers working on the dry farm in Moody Creek with his family.
Dad liked to jokingly brag that he graduated from Herbert Academy “3rd highest in his class; out of a class of 3”. John graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg, Idaho. He chose to serve our country during WWII.
He drove an M7 Priest Tank in the 8th Armored Division throughout Europe. After returning from the war he attended Ricks College. Dad loved collecting books to read and was always learning.
His example promoted live long learning for his children and grandchildren. John served a two-and-a-half-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Sweden, Stockholm Mission, the land of his ancestors. He was interviewed and set apart by the apostle LeGrand Richards.
He paid for his mission with war bonds he had saved – part was sent to him and the rest was sent home to help take care of his family while he was away. At the end of his mission, he bought a piano for a little branch in Sweden. After returning home, John married his sweetheart Lucille Chapman, from Rigby, Idaho in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 26, 1953.
They cherished 53 years together, until Lucille’s passing in 2006. They had six children, 24 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren. John had nicknames for each of them, and they lovingly called him “Grumps”.
He always loved traveling and spending time with his family. It brought him great joy to take his family back to Sweden to retrace his mission, 55 years later. Dad was again able to return to Sweden at age 82 and serve in the Stockholm Temple for a year.
John was a gifted builder and craftsman, who taught by example the value of hard work. He worked on several projects; Palisades Dam, I-15 overpasses, INL site, built several Capp Homes in the area. He also worked as a carpenter for Ricks College for over 25 years.
He was blessed with great health. He chopped wood for the fire from the age of eight until his eighties. John was known for his amazing garden and shared fresh produce with everyone.
He was a great neighbor and friend. He had several greenhouses to start celery, cabbage, and tomatoes. He also loved to grow geraniums for “mamma”.
John served faithfully in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in bishoprics, high councils, many stake and campus callings. John and Lucille served in the Idaho Falls Temple for 15 years. He had a strong testimony that he exemplified with his life’s actions.
After his wife, Lucille, had a stroke he selflessly cared for her for fifteen years. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a distinctive way of using language, that his family loves to quote. After he sold his home in 2012, his family was privileged to have Grumps live with them in there homes.
Dad liked to introduce himself as “a 92-year-old, homeless, disabled vet” as a friendly greeting. John is survived by his six children; Janell Spencer of Rexburg, ID, John B. (Diane) Wilcox of Layton, UT, J’Lene (Rich) Ward of Ammon, ID, Blaine (Leslie) Wilcox serving in the Russia Moscow Mission, Shauna (Garth) Storer of Milo, ID, Bruce (Paula) Wilcox of Payson, UT. John was preceded in death by his parents, wife and his siblings Helen (Alpha) Roberts, Samuel Wilcox, (stillborn) and Esther (Don) Fellows.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday February 2, 2019 at the Archer LDS Chapel, Archer, ID, 201 West 800 South, Archer, ID. The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, Friday February 1, 2019 at the Rexburg YSA LDS Chapel, 170 West 1st South (across from the northeast corner of Porter Park) Rexburg, ID, and Saturday from 10:00 – 10:45 am at the Archer LDS Chapel. Interment with military honors to follow at the Sutton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers we recommend that you donate to the LDS Family History fund www. ldsphilanthropies.org/familysearch or Missionary Fundwww. ldsphilanthropies.org/missionary and remember John by taking every opportunity to serve others.
Our family would cherish any special memories or experiences you have shared with dad. Thanks to all those who helped care for Grumps in any way.
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