Fox, Reta Mary

Reta Mary Fox, 96, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at English Valley Care Center, North English. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Powell Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Williamsburg. Private family services and burial will be held at a later date. Pastor Kirk Statler will officiate.

Reta was born Feb. 26, 1915, near North English on the farm, the daughter of Otto Lamont and Hazel Ruth (Kelley) Kutchera. She attended Gritter Creek School, North English High School and Cedar Rapids Business College. She was briefly married to Walter Grimm; they were later divorced. She married William Fox on Aug. 31, 1939, at the Little Brown Church, Nashua. Reta had resided in Cedar Rapids, Deep River, and in 1977, moved to North English. In 2005, she moved to Highland Ridge Presbyterian Home in Williamsburg.

Reta helped organize and start the Iowa County Historical Society. She was the last remaining charter member of the Iowa Historical Society. She spent numerous hours volunteering and preserving Gritter Creek School.

She was a member of the Iowa County Extension, Millersburg Garden Club and North English Christian Church. She enjoyed going to elder hostels, sewing, painting, quilting, playing cards, gardening, and teaching her grandchildren about gardening and flowers.

She is survived by a son, Richard (Hilda) Grimm of North English; eight grandchildren, Thomas (Cheryl) Grimm of Swanton, Vt., Gloria (Tim) Mesick of Bettendorf, Karla (Barry) Lee of Sigourney, John (Dawn) Grimm of Cedar Rapids, Michael (Pam) Grimm of North English, Brenda (Chris) Tompkins of Montezuma and Kurtis Grimm and Kelly Grimm, both of Iowa City; nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded by her parents; her husband, William Fox in 1981; a sister, Billie Brower; and a brother, John Kutchera.

A general memorial fund has been established.

Messages and tributes may be left at  under obituaries.