Heaven is more fun today as Jeffrey Gordon Wilcott went to meet his Maker in the first hour of Sunday, December 16, 2018, his brother Scott at his side.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, December 21, 2018 at Rembs Funeral Home, Marshfield, with Rev. Keith Kitzhaber officiating. Burial will take place in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. The visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday and from 10:00 am until service time on Friday at Rembs Funeral Home.
Jeff was born to Gordon “Chip” and Jean (Felhofer) Wilcott on July 28, 1949 in Marshfield. He attended Sacred Heart School and in 1967 graduated from Columbus High School, both in Marshfield and was a graduate of Stout State University, Menomonie. He worked most of his professional life as a CPA.
Jeff inherited the nickname “Minnow” from his uncle, Jerry Felhofer.
He moved to Milwaukee in the early 1970’s and became an “icon” with his gregariousness, wit and personality. He made a tremendous number of friends doing what he loved best – attending live music performances. He loved Summerfest best and almost never missed a day of it. But he also hit all the Irish Fests, Bastille Days, etc, as well as Locust Street Festival, Open Doors…You name it, Jeff was there, enjoying. “Milwaukee” magazine dubbed him “Mr. Festival” in an article they published about him. Jeff never spotted a stranger who didn’t look like an audience. His signature move on the dance floor was doing the splits until he popped a hammy around age 61.
After receiving bad news from his doctor in spring 2016, Jeff put a full-court press on life, visiting San Antonio; Phoenix, Las Vegas; Cleveland, Canton, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis; London, Liverpool, Paris, Rome; the Badlands and Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, Sturgis, Devil’s Tower, the Little Big Horn, Yellowstone, Salk Lake City; Cooperstown, Niagra Falls, Buffalo; Key West; Phoenix, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Tuscon, Tombstone, Carlsbad Caverns, Roswell, White Sands.
Not done yet, he saw Dublin, Cliffs of Moher, Amsterdam, Berlin, Vienna, Salzburg, Athens, Venice, Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo. This summer he travelled to Pittsburgh, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Washington DC. He also fit in Boston, New York City. About 3 weeks before the end, Jeff stunned friends with another quick trip to Key West. Many have related what an inspiration “Minnow” was on living life.
Sincere thanks to his wonderful friends, the health professionals at Froedtert, Columbia St. Mary’s, Horizon Hospice and the people who make the wonder drugs that prolong and enhance life.
Jeff is survived by his brother, Scott, his uncles, Robert “Buck” Wilcott of Menomonee Falls, Richard Wilcott of Marshfield, Norbert Petz of Wheeling, IL, his aunts, Barbara Felhofer, of San Antonio, TX, Carol Felhofer of Marshfield and many great cousins.
Jeff was one-of-a-kind and will never be forgotten by those who knew and loved him.
Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com
