Michael “Mike” Eugene Wilcox, 76 passed away surrounded by his family on November 9, 2025, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, NE

Michael was born to Stanley Wilcox and Norma Knott Wilcox in Council Bluffs, IA on March 29, 1949. Mike was the oldest of 4 siblings. His parents, both educators, instilled the value in Mike to stress education, hard work, to love his family and have a strong faith. They also instilled in him a love of sports from a very young age, his father Stan was a basketball referee, and Mike would hold the ball at half-time for his dad until the second half started.

Mike’s family moved several times during his childhood. Michael attended Gretna High School in Gretna, NE where he was very involved in athletics, including being a four year starter on the Varsity Basketball team. Michael also played football and ran track at Gretna High School and had many fond memories of his years spent in Gretna.

Mike received a basketball scholarship from Midland College in Fremont, NE where he played basketball and received a degree in accounting. Mike completed the CPA exam and practiced as a Certified Public Accountant in Omaha and Gretna, NE throughout his career. He was a partner in the firm Goracke and Wilcox, PC for many years and then went on with his own practice. Mike loved doing accounting and created strong lasting relationships with many clients who also became friends.

Family was also very important to Mike. He had 3 children with his first wife, Patricia Fricke Wilcox; Amy Wilcox-Burns, Aaron Wilcox and Jordan Wilcox. And then he was blessed when he married Jean Durant Wilcox to whom he was married more than 36 years with two loving stepdaughters Sara Carslon Lange, and Sonya Carlson. Mike’s favorite holiday was Christmas when all his children and grandchildren came to their home, and he could sit back and watch the chaos of his large extended family. He was also very generous and loved watching everyone’s faces as they opened gifts.

Mike always had a love for sports and was a lifetime Husker fan. He would tell his kids and grandkids stories about sitting in the knothole section at Memorial Stadium when he was young. He and Jean attended every Husker football game they could at home and on the road and throughout his life he was also a season ticket holder for Nebraska Basketball. And later in his life he became a Husker Volleyball fan as well. Mike also loved Northwest Missouri State University sports which he began to follow when his youngest son Jordan played football there. Even after Jordan graduated he continued to follow the Bearcats and was proud when his grandson Kaden attended Northwest to be part of the football equipment staff. He would say “All My Life I want to be a Bearcat.”

Mike followed his parents’ legacy and made sure that all 5 of his kids attended and graduated from college. And was also proud of the academic accomplishments of his grandchildren. Mike had very special relationships with each of his grandchildren, and all have their own precious memories like Tickle Duck, Infamous Mousy, see my finger and special trips.

Mike and Jean loved to travel and visited many places, including in the US, Hawaii, England, Scotland, and Egypt where they rode a camel. They also enjoyed attending their grandkids’ numerous school and extracurricular activities and spending time with their pets, Nutmegan (cat) and Willow (dog).

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Stan and Norma Wilcox; sister, Patricia Woodward, brother in-law Ted Woodward;and son, Aaron Wilcox.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; sister, Nancy Bister (Steve) of Kansas City, children: Amy Wilcox-Burns (Ryan), Jordan Wilcox (Karryn), Sonya Carlson all of Gretna, NE and Sara Lange (Jason) of Valley, NE; Grandchildren: Peyton (Sarah) Lange,  JJ Jungjohann, Parker Lange, Charly Jungjohann, Kaden Burns, Paili Lange, Kellen Burns, Keagen Burns, Kohen Burns, Merrick Wilcox, Maclin Wilcox, Mikah Wilcox and Miraya Wilcox; and great grandchildren, Kennedy and Cali Lange; and many nieces and nephews.

Service:  Friday, November 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., Journey Church, 20020 Hampton Drive, Gretna, NE. Lunch to follow at the church.

Source: https://www.heafeyheafey.com/obituaries/Michael-Eugene-Wilcox?obId=46373926