Janet Thatcher Wilcox

Janet Thatcher Wilcox died at home, surrounded by her daughters, on December 17, 2021. Janet was born in New York City, on February 24, 1934, to parents, Benjamin and Grace Thatcher Wolberg. Shortly after she was born, the family moved to Chicago, where Janet was raised by her mother, Grace Wolberg, a librarian in the Chicago Public Libraries. After her high school graduation, Janet expected to go to work in the Chicago meat packing plants, but her mother had other plans, and sent her to North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Janet graduated from North Central in 1955, with degrees in education and French, and went to work as a teacher in the Naperville Public Schools.

Janet married David Wilcox on December 21, 1957. They had their oldest daughter, Carol, and then moved to Colorado Springs, when David was offered a job at Mountain States Pipe and Supply. In Colorado Springs, Janet and Dave had two more daughters, Nancy and Betsy. Janet spent the next ten years as a mother and homemaker, then returned to the classroom, first as a substitute teacher, then later in her own classroom, working for more than two decades at Columbia and Mark Twain Elementary Schools in Colorado Springs District #11. After her retirement, she went to work in the family business, Mountain States Pipe and Supply. When Dave died in 1993, she became the President of Mountain States.

When she wasn’t working, Janet was a volunteer extraordinaire. For many years, she managed the Boutique (gift shop) at Memorial Hospital, often working more than forty hours per week buying gift items, stocking shelves, and running the store. Later, she volunteered for the Assistance League of Colorado Springs, serving in several different capacities, including treasurer, and also working at the Bargain Box. She was most proud of helping with Operation School Bell, an annual children’s clothing drive, in which hundreds of children received new school clothes each fall. She also served on many different charitable boards, including Cheyenne Village. She was a member of PEO, the Colorado Springs Country Club, and the El Paso Club.

Janet was a woman of many interests. She loved to read and was an avid Bridge player until almost the end of her life. She loved to travel and enjoyed spending March in the Grand Caymans for many years. After Dave’s death, she and her daughters and friends regularly traveled nationally and internationally.

After brain surgery in February, 2014, Janet moved into McKenzie Place, where she spent the last seven years of her life. There, she made new friends, and continued her love of bridge and other card games. She went out several times a week with her daughters. She loved going to the theater.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, David. She is survived by three daughters, Carol Wilcox, Nancy Wilcox (Wife- Traci Birchler), and Betsy Carroll (Husband-Paul); four grandchildren- Gregory Carroll, Megan Carroll Gawlik (Husband- Coby), Isaiah Hendrix-Wilcox, and Kadeem Hendrix-Wilcox, and three great-grandchildren- Gavin Gawlik, Jackson Thomas Gawlik and Ella Corine Gawlik (born two days before Janet’s passing).

Memorial services will be held at Swan Law Funeral Directors on January 22, 2022 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Assistance League of Colorado Springs or Cheyenne Village.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.Swan-Law.com for the Wilcox family.