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Obituary for WILLIAM EUGENE WILCOX

William “Bill” Wilcox, 99, passed away peacefully at home on December 23, 2021, with his children present. Bill was born on February 14, 1922, the only child of Cloyd and Marie Wilcox in Des Moines. He graduated from East High School in 1940. He was a lifelong Eastsider, except for his time proudly serving his country from 1942 to 1946 in the US Navy Seabees during World War II. He was stationed primarily in California and the Aleutian Islands. Upon his return to Des Moines, he was a member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers for 75 plus years. He worked on many prominent Des Moines buildings.

Bill married the love of his life, Erma J. Ballou on October 13, 1951 in Exira, Iowa. They made their home in Des Moines, where they raised their two children, Linda and Jim. He enjoyed woodworking in his retirement as well as traveling with Erma.

Bill is survived by his children, Linda Wilcox and Jim Wilcox both of Ames, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews; his longtime friends, Shirley Prall, Dan and Jan Schall, Harry and Karen Kramer and their son, Ryan and his finance’ Brianna Reynolds. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Erma.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm, Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Iles Grandview Park Chapel. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery following the service.