Sheldon Fox

Sheldon Fox
June 6, 1924 - October 20, 2020

Sheldon Fox, 96, of Oelwein, formerly of Randalia, passed away Tuesday October 20, 2020 at Oelwein Healthcare Center. A private family service will be held at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein with inurnment at the Greenwood Cemetery near Westgate. A public Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. A memorial fund has been established.

Sheldon Eugene Fox was born June 6, 1924 on the family farm in rural Westgate to parents Roy Earl and Nellie Jane (Palmerston) Fox. He attended country school through 8th grade and then Maynard High School. On November 29, 1945 he was united in marriage with Mary “Betty” Woods at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette.

With Betty at his side, Sheldon spent his entire life as a steward of the land as well as a dairy farmer. He took great care of his herd, his crops and the acreage. He received the Distinguished Dairyman award. He was a member of the Maynard Co-op Board of Directors, the St. Francis of Assisi Parish Council and Finance Committees and the Greenwood Cemetery Association of Westgate. He participated in Bowling and Pool Leagues. He had a passion for sports, most notably Chicago Cubs baseball. He always said if he lived to see the Cubs win a World Series he would die a happy man! He closely followed the Iowa Hawkeye men’s and women’s basketball teams. This support carried through to his daughters’ and grandchildren’s sport participation. Sheldon loved to fish, play cards, go to the casinos and use his sharp wit with all who knew him.

Left to Celebrate Sheldon’s life are his daughters, Pat (Veryl) Burghardt of Sumner, Peg (Keith) Schlatter of Hawkeye, Becky Fox of Cedar Rapids and Bobbie Fox of Cedar Falls; son-in-law Jim (Cindy) Nefzger of Lansing; grandchildren: Jennifer (Gene) Gleason, Aaron (Ingrid Barker) Burghardt, Neal (Chuck Salem) Burghardt, Katy Burghardt, Angie (Jeremy) Hundley, Heidi (Neil) Wilkinson, Derek (Heidi Eitel) Smith, Shelby (Michael) Logan, Garrett Rieks and Kinsey (Mark) Crawford; sixteen great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Betty; daughter Debra Nefzger; great-granddaughter Sadie Smith; siblings: Nora Potter, Evelyn Dyball, Faye Moore and Gilbert Fox.

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Bob & Lorraine Eldridge on November 2, 2020 at 2:46 PM said:

Condolences to the family. Sheldon was a nice man and a friend.

Marlene Kudrna on October 30, 2020 at 8:45 AM said:

Our sympathy to the Fox family.

Liz LaHaise on October 28, 2020 at 4:33 PM said:

So sorry to hear about your dad, Bobbie. I loved hearing your stories about him and your mom. I hope you are at peace with all the happy memories.

Edward Meyer on October 28, 2020 at 6:03 AM said:

My condolences to the Sheldon Fox family.

George Davis on October 27, 2020 at 1:20 PM said:

I have a lot of fond memories when I worked for Sheldon. His family is in our thoughts and prayers.

Jean murphy on October 25, 2020 at 2:13 PM said:

Sorry to see sheldons obit in courier today... I miss Betty, Sheldon and Margaret....we always had great conversations when the 4 of us got together!!!! I miss the whole Fox/ Henry clan Jean Murphy cedar falls.

Courtney Woods on October 24, 2020 at 11:06 AM said:

We love you, Uncle Sheldon! So proud to have you as family!

Carol Hamilton on October 24, 2020 at 9:50 AM said:

I so enjoyed getting to know Sheldon when Betty was at Oelwein Care and then later on visiting him at Arlington Place and Oelwein Care. He was a very kind man and adored his wife, children, grandchildren, and the Chicago Cubs!!
It was my honor to bring him communion and to know him, love him, and share part of his life with him. His humor and friendship will be greatly missed.

Brenda Doty on October 24, 2020 at 9:34 AM said:

I will miss you terribly my little Shelly. I feel lost at work with no one to tell my corny jokes to,but you akwats laughed at them. I think you did it to make me feel better. Rest in peace Shelly!

Brenda Doty on October 24, 2020 at 9:33 AM said:

I will miss you terribly my little Shelly. I feel lost at work with no one to tell my corny jokes to,but you akwats laughed at them. I think you did it to make me feel better. Rest in peace Shelly!

Diane VanLaningham on October 24, 2020 at 7:41 AM said:

I’m so sorry for your loss. He was a wonderful man. Loved his wit especially when we came in on Wednesday mornings to do a lab draw. Always called us the “blood suckers”. I’m happy I got to know him. Hugs to you all.

Pamela J Polark on October 23, 2020 at 3:29 PM said:

To the Fox girls, sorry to hear about your Dad. So many memories with your family growing up. We always had a good time. Our folks played a lot of cards and all picnics we had together as kids. God bless your family with prayers. Hope to see at the public at a later date. God Bless . Pam

Joan Steffen on October 23, 2020 at 12:52 PM said:

Sheldon has gone home to join the group that celebrated life together playing cards, raising their families, enjoying holidays together and working together at church. Such a bless life they all had together. Now some of the grandchildren of the same families are following in their footsteps as they too have a great group that get together! Struve, Brownell, Lamphier and Fox, bless them all!

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Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home

309 1st Avenue NE | Oelwein, IA 50662 | Phone: 319.283.4653

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