William B. Wilcox, 88

William B. Wilcox was born on Nov. 25, 1923, in River Falls, Wis., to Ira and Bertha (Madsen) Wilcox. He was raised in River Falls, attending River Falls High School and UW-River Falls. He spent 2-1/2 years in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

Management was a career tendency that he inherited from his father. He "managed" as high school class president for 3-1/2 years, in the U.S. Army Air Corps supply chain, and for the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps of River Falls. Bill spent his first 5 working years as the manager for the River Falls Clinic which was one of only 11 clinics in Wisconsin, still more than any other state. While there, Bill was lucky to meet Maxine Enge, the cute nurse in town. They were married on Sept. 14, 1947.

Bill and Maxine have three children, Cindy (Les) Sandberg of Reedsburg, Wis., Patty Jacobson of Black River Falls, Wis., and Dr. David (Jane) Wilcox of Bemidji, Minn. They have also been blessed with seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The Wilcoxes moved to Black River Falls in 1951 when Bill became the manager of the Krohn Clinic and Hospital. The Krohn Hospital was the last surviving private general hospital in Wisconsin. When the Krohn Clinic was incorporated in 1964 as the first medical professional service corporation in Wisconsin, the hospital property and equipment were donated to the community. Bill managed both until the hospital was designed, fund-raising complete, and contracts were ready for bid. A new administrator was hired for the hospital. Bill chose to stay at the Krohn Clinic and "managed" until his retirement in 1988. Bill was a charter member of the Board of Wisconsin Clinic Managers organization. He was also on the Midwest Board and a member of several national committees.

Bill and Maxine were both very busy in the community organizations and projects. Bill was a member of the Lion's Club, Rotary, and the Chamber of Commerce. He was an Eagle Scout, Scoutmaster of Troop 59 for 9 years, and involved with Scouting for most of his life. He was awarded the Silver Beaver for distinguished service to youth. He was presented the Paul Harris Award from the B.R.F. Rotary Club for his endeavors in fundraising for the Polio Plus Campaign. Bill was a founder and the first president of the Black River Recreation Association, the Industrial Development Commission, and the Black River Arts Alliance. More recently, he was involved in the Bruce Mound Winter Sports Project. He was active in the Evangelical Lutheran Church where he served on the church council several times, taught junior high and adult Sunday School for 30 years, and was chairman of the renovation project of 1994. He served on several "call committees" and other church committees.

Bill and Maxine are proud of the citizens of Black River Falls who work hard to support the unique progress found in this small-town environment. Bill was a well-known conservative who had great confidence in the unlimited potential of the individual. He believed in the American dream.

The funeral for Bill Wilcox will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at Evangelical Lutheran Church, Black River Falls. Visitation will be at Torgerson's Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Black River Memorial Hospice are suggested.

Torgerson's Funeral Home (715-284-4321) of Black River Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.

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