Fern Cox, age 84, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, passed away with Alzheimer’s disease on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Comforts of Home in St. Croix Falls.
Fern Alene (Frederickson) Cox was born on December 19, 1940 on a farm near Deronda, Wisconsin to Melvin and Vera (Seekins) Fredrickson. Shortly afterwards, the family moved to another farm near Deronda. She attended country school and then went to school in Amery, Wisconsin. She later took classes to obtain her GED in the early 1980s. she was confirmed at Garfield Trintiy Lutheran Church in the summer of 1954. Fern married Max Cox on June 21, 1958 on the Cox family farm in Centuria, Wisconsin. To this union three daughters were born, Debra, Denise and Darlene. She helped her husband, Max on the dairy farm by milking cows, feeding calves and whatever else was needed to be done. After Max retired from farming in January of 1989, Fern worked at a variety of jobs which included working at the deli at the Holiday grocery store, Ben Frankin, a coffee shop and at Wal-Mart in the food court and cell-phone department, all of which were in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. In April of 2001, she moved to her new ranch style house in Osceola, Wisconsin. After she retired from Wal-Mart, she was able to enjoy her new home and worked tirelessly in her flower gardens. She was a gifted seamstress and made dresses for her three girls and granddaughters. When they were young, she made many embroidery and candle wicking pictures and had them framed. She also made many crafts which she shared with her children and grandchildren. She “gifted” each grandchild with an embroidered birth announcement picture and a baby quilt. Among her other talents was that she was an avid gardener. She had a “green thumb” and her flower beds on the farm and town were a sight to see.
She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in the summer of 1981 and was baptized by immersion at the Osceola Community Church.
Fern is survived by her three daughters, Debra (Keith) Hinderaker of Astoria, South Dakota, Denise (Steve) Olson of Wyoming, Minnesota, and Darlene (Jim) Cross of Osceola, Wisconsin; nine grandchildren, Marisa Huncherick, Trevor Hinderaker, Chad Simpson, Derrick (Gina) Simpson, Nicole Cross, Matalie (Zach) Parker, Katie (Phil) Points, James (Tina) Cross and Taylor (Brandais) Cross; nine great-grandchildren; two step great-grandchildren; brother, Wayne (Janet) Fredrickson of Star Prairie, Wisconsin; sister, Donna Johnson of Osceola; sister-in law, Kinda Burich of Amery; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Fern is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Max; father and mother-in-law, Elmer and Edna Cox; sisters-in-law, Iris Schultz, Vicy Frerickson and Maxine Lowell; brothers-in-law, Don Lowell, Ollie Johnson, Bill Medenwald and Bill Schultz; and nephews Bryan and Brad Schultz.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at the Osceola Community Church, Osceola, Wisconsin, with a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the Balsam Lake Cemetery, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. Arrangements are with the Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola. Condolences may be expressed online at grandstrandfh.com.
