Kenneth Earl Wilcox, age 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 3rd at his residence at Covenant Village in Golden Valley Minnesota. Ken was born on May 22nd, 1935 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Earl and Mary Wilcox, and he lived in Starbuck, Manitoba until he graduated from Starbuck Collegiate High School in 1952. After high school Ken attended United College in Winnipeg, and later completed his education at the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ken's greatest decision in life was to marry the love of his life, Norma Wilcox (née Thorarinson), whom he met at a dance in her hometown of Riverton, Manitoba. Despite an initial miscommunication regarding their first date ("she stood me up!" was Ken's later recollection), he persisted, showing characteristic wisdom that would serve him well throughout his life. They were married at the Riverton Lutheran Church on May 11, 1957, and moved to the United States shortly thereafter. Ken started his career in financial services at Great West Life Insurance Company in Winnipeg, and in banking at Union State Bank in Adams, ND in 1956. In 1957 Ken was hired by Northwestern National Bank in Minneapolis where he began work at Security State Bank in Montevideo, MN. In 1961 he was selected to attend Management Training at Northwestern Bank's Minneapolis headquarters, so he and family moved to Richfield, Mn for a 2 year period. Ken was then hired by Cliff Sommer at Owatonna's Security Bank and Trust Company as a loan officer in 1963. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President in 1965, Vice President in 1967, and Senior Vice President in 1973. He became President of the Bank in 1976 at age 40, and at that time he was youngest President in the Corporation. Ken remained President of the Bank till his retirement in 2000, and Chairman of the Board a few years after. Just as Ken was a perfect match for the bank, he was also a perfect match for the community of Owatonna. Ken made his mark on Owatonna through service in many roles and organizations, such as the Owatonna Foundation (Secretary-Treasurer, President), Southern MN Initiative Fund, Owatonna Incubator, Co-Chariman and Member of the Board of Overseers Gainey Conference Center, Trinity Lutheran Church (Church Council, Trustee, Trinity Foundation, Usher), Owatonna Jaycees (including Boss of the Year Award), Owatonna People's Press (Shoulder to the Wheel Award), Owatonna Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Owatonna Arts Center, Rotary (Paul Harris Fellow), Elks Club, Blue Line Club, Owatonna Country Club, and the Owatonna Curling Club. Ken also served as a Board Member of the Minnesota Bankers Association, where he served on many committees, including legislative committees. Ken was instrumental in bringing indoor hockey to Owatonna as an organizer and chief fundraiser the original Four Seasons Centre and the later expansion, which added the second sheet of ice. He also recruited talent from outside of Owatonna to build the youth hockey program. Ken's contributions to Owatonna are memorialized in a bench placed in Central Park in his honor by the Owatonna Foundation, and a rink at the Four Seasons named after him and his friend and fellow hockey booster Ken Austin, as well as through a scholarship that he and Norma funded for high school hockey players. As Bank President, Ken was not only successful as a businessman—winning many awards from the company, and being described by the Wells Fargo's CEO as "a hero of the company"—but also in running the business in a way that furthered his service to the community that he loved. For example, he was known for taking time out of his busy days to send newspaper clippings with personalized messages to children and adults to congratulate them when their accomplishments were recognized in the newspaper. Taking care of the Louis Sullivan-designed building (known as the National Farmers' Bank to architecture fans around the world) was also a job of service and passion for Ken. The restoration efforts that he led were multimillion dollar projects that restored the building's beauty, protected its integrity, and adapted it to changing circumstances while honoring Sullivan's original vision. Ken was a dedicated, giving, and loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a dear friend to many. He was a leader by example on a daily basis. He will be greatly missed, but his contributions to the community he loved will endure, and his warmth, smile, humor, kindness, and generosity will be fondly remembered by those who knew and loved him. Ken was preceded in death by his mother and father, Earl and Mary Wilcox, his brother Donald Wilcox, sister in law Marlene Wilcox, mother and father in law Stefan and Agnes Thorarinson, brother in law Bradley Thorarinson, and nephew Wesley Kornik. Ken is survived by his loving wife, Norma and children Brenda (Mark) Abraham, Cindy Wilcox, and Bill (Elizabeth) Wilcox; Grandchildren, Eric Abraham, Nicole Abraham, Caeli Wilcox, Christopher Wilcox, Alexandra Wilcox, and Jon Wilcox; Sister and brother in laws, Sonja and Les Kornik, Carla and Frank Books, Dorothy and Lawrence Charney, Jonas Thorarinson; and, Nieces and nephews Grant (Kara)Wilcox, Mike Wilcox, Christine (Neil) Johnson, Wade Kornik, Stefan Books, Stewart (Annie) Books, Sandy Warren, Pam (Gary) Bohn, Gail (John) Brewis, Sharon Charney, Greg Charney. It is so difficult to be grieving during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020. In an abundance of love and caring for the safety of everyone who touched lives with Ken, and in compliance with CDC guidance, there will be a small family service at Forest Hill Cemetery, 2pm Friday October 9, with livestream available at (https://www.wearelivetoday.com/celebration-of-life). And we look forward to having a community Celebration of Life at a later time when we can do so safely with our loved ones in Owatonna and extended family in Canada. Memorials may be sent to The Owatonna Foundation, Trinity Lutheran Church Foundation, Young Life Foundation, and the Owatonna School District Foundation.