Sara J. Wilcox

Sara J. Wilcox, age 71, of Wausau (formerly Chilton), died on December 9, 2021, at Willow’s Way Assistant Living in Wausau. She was born November 10, 1950, daughter of the late Nyles and Lois Papendieck.

Sara graduated from Chilton High School and went to Patricia Stevens Career College in Milwauke for an education in Interior Design. During high school she worked at Hipke’s Drug Store running their soda fountain area, and she said it may have been her most favorite job during her life. She was a bit of a free spirit and lived all over Wisconsin and the United States. While living in San Francisco, she owned and operated her own interior design studio. Health problems forced her to have brain surgery in 1989 which left her paralyzed on her left side. Although her disability frustrated her, she was always very happy when family came to visit. 

Sara is survived by her daughter, Jennifer (Michael) Schmidt; three grandchildren: Samantha Morgan, Nicole Morgan, and Leah Schoerner; four great-grandchildren; and siblings: Steve (Veronica) Papendieck, Jeff (Christine) Papendieck, Linda (Gary) Javore, Greg (Stacy) Papendieck, Dino (Ellie) Papendieck; and a foreign-exchange sibling from Santiago, Chile: Sergio “Checho” Velis.

Sara was preceded in death by her parents, Nyles and Lois.

Services are being planned for summer 2022.

Sara’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Willow’s Way for their excellent care, especially Juanita who became a dear friend to her.