William Merle "Bill" Cox 1916 - 2007

COX, CHILES, SKERIK, LILLIS, JOHNSON, RATTELMUELLER

Posted By: Deb (email)
Date: 12/27/2007 at 22:59:11

The Burlington Hawkeye, Thursday, December 27, 2007
William Cox

William Merle "Bill" Cox, 91, of Johnston, Iowa died Monday, December 24, 2007, at Bishop Drumm Care Center in Johnston.

Born December 3, 1916, in Lyons, Kansas, he was the only child of William Alexander and Mabel Pearl Chiles Cox. On February 14, 1942, he married Mary Ann Skerik in San Diego, California. She died March 4, 2007.

Mr. Cox was a salesman for Skerik Auto Parts Service Company for 38 years. Following high school and college in Hutchinson, Kansas, he moved to southern California and worked in the aircraft industry during World War II. He met Mary Ann Skerik in San Diego and they married. In 1945 they moved to Burlington where they were active in the community and raised their five sons.

In 2003 Bill and Mary moved to Johnston to be closer to family. A beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, he enjoyed spending time with his family and traveling with Mary. A long time member of SS John and Paul Catholic Church and the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, he served in the Black Knights, St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Survivors include five sons, Bill (Kathy) Cox of Urbandale, Iowa, Jim (Sue) Cox of Benson, Arizona, Steve (Linda) Cox of Bettendorf, Iowa, Tim (Liz) Cox of Waterloo, Iowa and John (Ellen) Cox of Morton, Illinois.; 14 grandchildren, Jen (Tim) Lillis, Chris (Angie) Cox, Tricia (Brian) Johnson, Katy (Eric) Rattelmueller, Joe Cox, Brian Cox, Annie Cox, Mary Cox, Joseph Cox, Natalie Cox, Kevin Cox, Joel Cox, Jenna Cox and Misha Cox; six great-grandchildren, Neva and Paul Lillis, Ellie and Tyler Cox, Joseph and Abigail Johnson; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary, his parents and his granddaughter, Kelly Cox.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Cox will be at 2:00 PM Friday, December 28, 2007, at St. Paul's Catholic Church. Father David Steinle will officiate. The Rosary will be recited at 6:00 PM at the church following which the family will be present to greet friends until 8:00 PM. Music will be provided by the Des Moines County Resurrection Choir. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Memorials have been established for the Iowa Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Notre Dame Catholic School and Bishop Drumm Care Center.