Nellie Wilcox

    Nell Irene Wilcox, 97, Clear Lake, died Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake.  A private inurnment was held at the Clear Lake Cemetery with Pastors Jill and Bob Brandstad of the Community of Christ Church officiating.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.  Memorials may be given to the Community of Christ Church or Hospice of North Iowa.

    Nell was born Jan. 28, 1914 in Logan, Iowa, Harrison County, the daughter of Earl and Wilma (Gunnette) Leonard.  She attended country school and graduated from Logan High School.  She married Arthur Wayne Wilcox Aug. 24, 1936 in Logan.  She worked side by side with Wayne in a grocery business in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  In 1952, they moved to Clear Lake where they purchased Wilcox Furniture from Wayne’s brother, Wendell.  Nell was involved in all facets of the business from accounting, to sales, to purchasing, and of course, decorating.  She worked with him in the furniture store for over 30 years and when her mother came to live with them, she retired.
    Nell was a member of the Community of Christ Church, where she taught Sunday school, was a Women’s Group leader, sang in the choir, and was choir director.  She was a member of Wa Tan Ye, Clear Lake Women’s Club, and T.T.T.  Nell enjoyed painting with oil, bowling, golfing, and traveling.  She and Wayne spent 19 winters in Mission, Texas. 
    Nell is survived by her daughter, Janelle Sargent and her husband, Dale, Clear Lake; two grandchildren, Jennifer Moore and her husband, Bruce, Scottsdale, Az., and Jeff Sargent and his wife, Heather, Highland, Utah; great-grandchildren, Sarah and Stephen Moore, and Sophia and Isabella Sargent; sister, Maxine Lloyd, Kennewick, Wash.; sisters-in-law, Zola Beth Leonard, Woodbine, Iowa; several nieces and nephews; and her “Wilcox Furniture family.”
    Nell was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wayne Wilcox; two brothers, Reuben Leonard and Ivan Leonard.
    Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.