Mary E. Wilcox Obituary (1928 - 2013)

Mary E. Wilcox, 84, of Pana died Saturday, June 29, 2013 in Heritage Health Care, Pana. She was born July 4, 1928 in Humboldt, IL, the daughter of William H. and E. Helen (Kastl) Knollenberg, deceased. Mary graduated from Humboldt High School and from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in elementary education. She was an elementary school teacher her entire life. She came to Rosamond for her first teaching position in 1950. She then taught kindergarten at Lincoln and Washington Elementary Schools and retired from Pana School District in the 80's. Mary was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Pana, Retired Teachers Assn., and was also active in many volunteer organizations, including Meals on Wheels, Pana Community Marriage Encounter, Pana Community Hospital Auxiliary, Home and Garden Club, and many others. She and her husband were the organizers of the Compassionate Friends Chapter in Pana. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, sewing, and walking. Mary E. Knollenberg and Charles L. Wilcox were united in marriage on December 27, 1951 in Mattoon, IL. He preceded her in death on August 12, 2008. She is survived by her daughters: Lori Gibson husband Brian, Sesser, IL and Kathy Lebon, Rosamond IL; daughters-in-law: Marie Wilcox, Springfield, IL; Carol Wilcox, Pana, IL and Heidi Flynn, Kenosha, WI; 13 grandchildren: Brian Wilcox, Springfield, IL; Megan Hallberg husband Ethan, Chatham, IL; Janet West husband Don, Pana, IL; Deborah Horton husband Mark, Auburn, IL; Pam Logue husband Ken, New Douglas, IL; Alisa Wilcox, North Carolina; Kara Wilcox, Aurora, IL; Valerie Gibson, Nashville, TN; Jennifer Gibson, Nashville, TN; Kendall Gibson, Sesser, IL; Charleen Lebon, Rosamond, IL; Andy Lebon wife Whitney, Arcola, IL; Josh Lebon, Shelbyville, IL; 9 great grandchildren; 4 sisters: Elizabeth A. Bertsch husband Dale, Bement, IL; Cecelia Rose Crowe, Vancouver, WA; Nora Jane Hough husband John, Vancouver, WA; Patricia Knollenberg, Mattoon, IL; 6 brothers: Joseph Knollenberg wife Sandie, Bloomfield Hills, MI; John Knollenberg wife Chris, Boulder, CO; Robert Knollenberg wife Barbara, Boulder, CO; Walter Knollenberg wife Ellen, Birmingham, AL; Richard Knollenberg, Mattoon, IL; Daniel Knollenberg wife Pam, Longmont, CO. She was also preceded in death by her daughter Charleen J. Wilcox on December 23, 1966; 4 sons: John E. Wilcox on December 29, 2007, James W. Wilcox on August 26, 1984, Mark D. Wilcox on March 16, 2009 and Richard L. "Rick" Wilcox on May 10, 2012; brother William L. Knollenberg in 1977, sister Dorothy Swiney in 2002; and infant brothers James F. Knollenberg in 1944 and Michael E. Knollenberg in 1948. Funeral Information Funeral mass will be Wednesday, July 3, 2013 in St. Patrick's Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Rodney A. Schwartz officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Pana. Friends may call Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. in McCracken-Dean Funeral Home. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m.