Sheldon Fox

SHELDON FOX

Oelwein

Sheldon Fox, 96, of Oelwein, formerly of Randalia, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 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. For condolences, please visit www.geilenfeldfh.com.

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 eighth grade and then Maynard High School. On Nov. 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/billiard 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 Hawkeyes men's and women's basketball teams. This support carried through to his daughters' and grandchildren's sports 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; 16 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; and siblings, Nora Potter, Evelyn Dyball, Faye Moore and Gilbert Fox.