Victor "Vic" Wilcox

life story

Beloved husband, father, entrepreneur, mentor, and friend

This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

John: 17:3

About Vic-

Victor Stanley Wilcox was born May 4, 1953, to his parents, Vernon and Bette (Libby) Wilcox. The first of three children, he was the apple of his mother’s eye. Bette encouraged her son's talents in tennis, the arts, in becoming a leader, a gentleman and a scholar.

From his father, he learned the value of working hard and being a provider. Vern taught him how to sail, and the dedication involved in "life sports" like repairing houses, boats, and cars.

Victor was a perfectionist. His first car was a 1964 & ½ Mustang that his dad helped him repaint. Vic was a true Renaissance man learning to wear both the blue and white-collar, most exceptionally, throughout his life.

Vic was an active and gifted kid. He understood the value of mentorship and supporting others. As a young man, he took his little brother Chuck along with him to the Terrace Theater in Robbinsdale. Their shared experiences and love of cinema became a bond right up until his untimely death. The last film that they saw together was the re-release of West Side Story, on December 25th, 2021.

Victor loved musicals. He attended Brooklyn Center high school and played, or starred in, every high school musical; from the time they brought him up from the 6th grade to play Winthrop in the Music Man, to when he played Curly in Oklahoma, his senior year of high school.

Vic was gifted in music, academia, and tennis. He brought his team to the state championships in 1971, was president of the Honor Society, and his beautiful tenor voice placed him in concert and the all-state choir.

It was in the all-state choir, his junior year, that Victor met Nancy (Ballantyne) from Rose Creek, MN. Victor was accepted into Hamline University with a full scholarship for tennis. Nancy joined him at Hamline University two years later, and they were married in 1974. Victor’s father, Vern, passed away shortly after the two were married that same year.

Victor was a man of many surprises. He was a music major who had a sharp mind for business. After graduation, he started a career in the business of Roller-skating! He went on to help build and run the Wooddale Tennis and Skating Center, located in Woodbury, MN. Vic and Nancy built a house in Newport, and she worked alongside him at Wooddale. In 1980, they welcomed twin girls, Lauren and Leslie.

After a business agreement went unfavorably for Victor in the skating industry, he made a vow to himself never to work for someone else's dream again. He never did. The best parts of Victor Wilcox were his persistence, determination, loyalty, resilience, and unshakable positive attitude in the face of adversity. He had to reinvent himself many times over the years. Not many have the tenacity that Vic did.

The 1980s and early ’90s proved to be a windfall for Victor, as he became a CFP and opened his own financial planning firm. He built a grand house in Woodbury and welcomed their son Evan. It was at this time, the greed and excess of the ’80s proved to be fatal for his first marriage. Victors’ mother had remarried Tony Latessa and Bette died in December of 1989. She was 56. Victor and Nancy finalized their divorce in 1992.

Victor went on to make money hand over fist in financial planning. Built a second “vacation” home in Hudson, WI… He simply got too full of himself and became greedy. There is a saying he understood well, “You can have anything you want. You just can’t have everything you want”.

Victor tried to have everything and it cost him a lot.

Vic was a shrewd businessman and built Sunsets, in Hudson, WI; presently known as Pier 500. He was still young and thought money could buy happiness. Live and learn.

After his divorce, he continued on a path of excess with women and money - until he met Eva Lenoard-Crawford and she helped him start to reshape his life. Vic was a major influence on Eva’s children, daughter Angie and especially her son, Richard, during the 6 years that they were together. They remained dear friends until his passing.

In the fall of 2000, he met and fell in love with his wife, Stephanie (Kiefer) Duke Wilcox. They got engaged on New Year's Eve the following year. A single mom to 3 small girls, Victor was her redeemer, protector, and the unconditional love of her life. Their romance was truly one for the storybooks.

In the fall of 2003, Vic was indicted on federal charges, spending 7 and 1/2 years in prison. True to form, Vic achieved a great measure of success even in this environment. He ran the education department, tennis team, the Catholic, Lutheran, and high school choirs. He was a mentor and example to all who had a desire to make positive changes in their own lives. In 2010, he was released and Stephanie was there to pick him up. There was never a question about his commitment to her. They were married in the spring of 2011. It was at this time that they began studying the truth found in God's word, the Bible. Their faith and God's grace carried them through hard times.

Not many marriages could withstand the pressure they were faced with while trying to re-create their lives. Vic saw Steph through several treatments in their 10-year marriage and was so proud of her sobriety and stability in recent years.

Victor was not always a team player. His wife, Stephanie would say, “that’s because Victor was the whole team!

Anyone who knew him knew that Vic was, the owner, coach, quarterback, the entire defensive line, and ever the cheerleader.

To those that were close to Vic, he was always there to teach, support, encourage, reassure, and help you reach your own potential. He loved going to work every day at his marketing firm. If you were fortunate enough to work for Vic, he made it a point to make sure you knew you were valued.

As his good friend, Lee, texted to him the morning of his passing, “The man who can”. And Victor was that. There was seemingly nothing the man could not achieve when he set his mind to it. We all came to him with our “stuff” because his broad shoulders could take it - he was always the smartest guy in the room.

Every day, Vic got up-planned his work, and worked his plan. Vic was dauntless, unbreakable, and a fierce defender of those he loved. He could also be a scoundrel and he was a confidence man, to be sure, but those who put their confidence in him did so absolutely.

There were several good people that remained in Vic’s life from before and after his sentencing. To these, Victor had great affection for and was very grateful to:

His loving wife, Stephanie Duke Wilcox, and her children.

Chuck and Carolyn Kiefer, Steph’s parents, whom he loved and who became his family.

His brother, Chuck Wilcox

James Boyd (deceased)-* Friend and mentor

Lee Churchill, his long-time friend, business partner, and confidant.

Eva Lenoard-Crawford, her husband Robert, Richard, and Angie, Eva’s children.

Faithful Friends and Associates: (In no particular order, and please forgive any omissions)

Tim, Doug, Pete, Jonny, Dan and Mary, Pastor Maggie, Charlotte, Eric, Marty, Frank and Alicia, Mouse, Corey, Danielle, Paul, Jeremy, and Cindy. John and Marilyn -Witness to our wedding and faithful witnesses of Jehovah.

A special debt of gratitude to his longtime friends, Dave and Ann Siegel. Especially to Ann for her loyal and giving friendship for almost 40 years.

Victor continued to enjoy the things he loved until his passing. He loved driving his restored Mustang convertible, seeing movies and Broadway shows, playing doubles and watching tennis, dining out, traveling the world, and being “in the cloud” with his wife.

Vic was so happy to reconnect with his Brooklyn Center classmates at his 50th high school reunion last fall. He especially enjoyed singing with the Eagan Men's Chorus and for the parishioners at Bethesda Church in Inver Grove Heights.

His vocal talent was one of the many things that brought others so much joy.

His presence is deeply missed by those that knew and loved him.

To Vic's Children- Leslie, Lauren, and Evan-

Your father wanted you to know that he was sorry about what happened between him and your mom. He was wrong, and you did not deserve any of it. You became causalities of your parents' divorce as sides were taken and lines were drawn. Your dad made selfish decisions.

He followed your lives from a distance and was very proud of all of your accomplishments. He felt regret that he was not there for you while you were all growing up. He often talked about contacting you but never wanted to inflict further damage to this fractured family. Your dad could figure out almost anything, but he could never quite figure out how to make amends. He thought, at that time, that providing financially was somehow enough. Self-deceived he was not. Victor Wilcox was a man who always looked ahead but you forever remained in his heart. He was a capable, smart, talented, positive-natured, and encouraging man; his blood is your blood. He hoped you had someone in your life to provide you with direction and support. He never spoke a bad word about your mom. To Nancy: You were an Ace in his book, and he knew you would raise these children well. You did a brilliant job.

It is a sincere hope that you will consider attending his memorial service, find forgiveness for your father’s mistakes, and make peace with your lineage. Your dad was a remarkable man.

He loved and was loved.

memorial service

Memorial Service and Remembrance will be held on Zoom

February 23, 2022

Please join his wife Stephanie, family, and friends, in remembrance of Victor.

Please use Meeting ID: 494-676-7633 password 191400

Service will begin @ 6:30 PM, followed by a Bible discourse on God's promises and a sharing of our faith in the Resurrection of His Son, our Redeemer, Christ Jesus. Brother Richard Johnson of the Summit Ave Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses will present, 7:00-7:30 PM.

Song, slideshow, and remembrances will continue over Zoom.