Phyllis Wilcox, 71, Owatonna

Phyllis Jean Wilcox, age 71, of Owatonna, formerly of South St. Paul, passed away on Nov. 15, 2023, at the Emeralds in Faribault following a short illness.

Phyllis was born on Sept. 10, 1952, in Owatonna to Lester and Agnes (Brindza) Wilcox. Phyllis graduated from Owatonna High School in 1970. In 1986, she received a degree from Dakota County Area Vocational-Technical Institute in Wood Finishing. After high school, Phyllis started working at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Owatonna. Over the years, Phyllis transferred to the Minneapolis office, then an office in Great Falls, Montana, and then back to Minneapolis. After a 30-year career, she retired in 2008.

In retirement, she worked for the State of Minnesota as a contractor overseeing the phone communication for the State Fair until 2018. She then moved back to her hometown, Owatonna, to be closer to family and longtime friends.

Her hobbies included biking, cross country skiing, guitar playing, refinishing furniture, flower gardening, watching movies, listening to music, online shopping, shopping at Hobby Lobby with her sister and niece Kelly, and spending time with family and friends.

Phyllis is survived by siblings: Catherine Hensgen, Cincinnati, Ohio; Judith (LeRoy) Pike, Medford; Ronald (Donna) Wilcox, Hibbing; William (Barbara) Wilcox, Owatonna; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by parents Lester and Agnes Wilcox, all her aunts and uncles, several cousins, and pets Murphy and Gracie.

A Celebration of Life will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, at Brick-Meger Funeral Home, 1603 Austin Road, Owatonna. Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the Celebration of Life at the funeral home. For more information or to leave an online condolence message, visit www.megercares.com.