Wilcox, Jerry 1948-1963

WILCOX

Posted By: Doris Hoffman (email)
Date: 7/2/2010 at 14:29:45

Akron sport fans are concerned
over speculation as to whether
school athletics will be banned on
account of the death of Jerry Wilcox,
17 year old Akron high school
athlete, who collapsed and died
after playing in a game of basketball
at Jefferson.

Jerry Wilcox, 17, a member of
the Akron high school " B " basketball
team, died suddenly in the
dressing room at Jefferson, S. D.,
following a game Tuesday night.
Dr. Thomas L. Coriden, Woodbury
county medical examiner who
was called to St. Joseph's Mercy
hospital when the body was brought
in by members of the Jefferson fire
department inhalator squad, said
death apparently resulted from an
aneurysm or a heart attack.

J. P. Trotzig, Plymouth county
medical examiner, was asked to
perform an autopsy. Dr. Coriden
said after talking with Jerry’s parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wilcox,
the parents said Jerry had always
been healthy, according to Dr.
Coriden, but that he suffered an
injury three weeks ago when the
football team played Elk Point.
Jerry played the last three min-
utes of the game Tuesday night,
then went to the dressing room
with the team. Team members
said he took his shirt off, then his
body appeared to become rigid, and
he gasped as though having diffi-
culty breathing. His teammates
caught him as he sank, and laid
him on the floor.

The Jefferson fire department
inhalator squad was called, and
after arriving and attempting to
revive Jerry, the squad called an
ambulance. Before the ambulance
arrived the squad decided to take
Jerry to the hospital.

The body was taken to the Rossow
funeral home at Akron.

Le Mars Globe Post
Thursday November 21, 1963
-----------------------------
[Another Obituary]

Note: He is buried in Riverside Cemetery

RITES ARE HELD LAST FRIDAY FOR AKRON YOUNG MAN

Heart Attack Fatal To Jerry Wilcox On Tuesday, Nov. 19

Somewhat overshadowed by the tragic events at Dallas, Texas, the last of the week, tout not obscured, was memory of the sad and sudden passing of a bright and popular Akron High school pupil, Jerry Wilcox, 15-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wilcox, on Tuesday evening, Nov. 19. As briefly noted in these columns last week, Jerry had participated the last three minutes with his teammates in a "B" team basketball game at Jefferson, S. D. Returning to the dressing room the young player became suddenly ill and collapsed. His teammates gave immediate assistance and the Jefferson fire department inhalator squad was called, but was unable to revive -the lad and an ambulance was summoned to convey him to a Sioux City hospital; however, life had departed before his arrival there.

Jerry was born to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wilcox on February 9, 1948, and had resided here all his life, He was a sophomore in Akron High school, was a member of the First Baptist church and was president of the church’s youth organization. He was deservedly popular among his associates, by whom he will be sincerely missed and mourned.

Left to mourn his untimely departure are his parents, two brothers, Terry (a twin) and Stephan; four sisters, Pamela, Cheryl, Deborah and Tamara, and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Arvel E. Lake, all of Akron. The bereaved relatives have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire community.

As a token of respect, Akron public school was dismissed at noon Friday to enable faculty and school students to attend the funeral services at 2:00 p. m. in the First Baptist church, with Rev. Michael Strom officiating.

Mrs. Hugh Swift was vocalist and Mrs. V. G. Adams was organist.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, November 28, 1963
Akron, Iowa