Obituary of Marvin W. Wilcox

The Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting with the service details. On-line condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Marvin Wayne Wilcox, a South Dakota native born to parents Fred and Wilma (Bates) Wilcox in Stickney, SD on July 24th, 1925. Marvin moved to Mission Hill with his parents in 1935 and attended the Welby Rural School, Mission Hill High and graduated from Yankton High School in 1943. He volunteered to serve in the Army during World War II entering the service in 1944. Marvin saw action on a machine gun crew as the 10th Armored Division moved through France and into Germany. His European tour lasted 18 months, returning to South Dakota to marry Esther Simonsen on December 2nd, 1946. Together they farmed in rural Volin until 1954 when they moved to the town of Volin serving as Post Master until his retirement in 1982 and moving to Yankton in 1996. Marvin spent his last year at Majestic Bluffs assisted living. Marvin was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the American Legion, VFW, and the Yankton Senior Center where he was well known for assisting others with their income taxes as a volunteer. Marvin was also heavily involved with National Association of Retired Federal Employees. Marvin was fully engaged with his daughters Julie (Wilcox) Potts and husband Duane, and his daughter Joyce (Wilcox) Charles and husband Dave. With 9 grandkids and 10 great grandkids he entertained them with fishing, hunting and long stories about the long walk to school in those terrible South Dakota Snow storms. For his own entertainment he was an accomplished trap shooter winning many friends and trophies alike. Marvin is survived by his two daughters, Joyce and Julie and their families; a brother, Fred Wilcox and his wife, Anita of Wakonda and three sister-in-laws, Jackie Simonsen of Yankton, SD, Betty Stuen of Rockford, IL and Colette Wilcox of LeMars, IA. Marvin was preceded in death by his wife, Esther who died on June 21, 2007, son, Jerry who died in 2000, brother, Alan Wilcox and one infant sister.