Thomas Bernard Cox

Thomas Bernard Cox, 74, of 12 Grenville St., Atikokan, Ont., passed away peacefully Thursday, May 30, 2002 at the Atikokan General Hospital.
Throughout a 26-month struggle with cancer, in which he successfully rallied twice, Tom displayed characteristic courage, humour, and a positive mental attitude.
Tom Cox was born in Fort Frances, Ont. on April 30, 1928. During his 27,040-day engagement here on Earth, Tom was truly grateful to God for each and every single day.
As a youth in Fort Frances, Tom managed his own large paper route and after high school, became a grounds keeper at the local golf course. Tom also was a great hockey player in his prime and was even shopped briefly by the big leagues.
But he was an entrepreneur at heart. Tom began his business life in 1949 in partnership as an independent logging contractor.
He married his soul mate, Ilene (Isberg) in Fort Frances in 1952 and together they moved to Atikokan at the outset of the mining boom.
Aside from his friendly demeanor and enormous physical size, the one thing that made Tom Cox a truly unique individual was his absolute fearlessness in the face of both challenge and change.
Tom reinvented himself a number of times, changing careers into seemingly unrelated fields. Whenever he left a position to move into something new, it would take three people to replace him.
He built his own houses, repaired his own cars, and fixed every kid’s bicycle in the neighborhood.
Tom entered back into the world of private business again in 1979 as the new owner of Quetico North. This was a business that truly suited him because it was really many businesses in one—a gas station, restaurant, marine dealership, canoe trip outfitter, grocery store, etc.
Throughout his many careers, Tom’s trademark signature would have appeared on an estimated 100,000 pay cheques.
Tom believed in people and in his community, and gave freely of his tremendous energy and considerable talents to various and numerous worthy causes and organizations.
Tom was predeceased by his loving wife, Ilene Mae Cox, nee Isberg (“Blossom”), in September of 1996.
He will be missed by his five children, Bernie, Cathy (Neil), Jim, Pat, and Mike, daughters-in-law, Lynn, Darlene, Joanne, and Ally-son; son-in-law, Randy Neil; and seven grandchildren, Michael, Mac-kenzie, Katie, Pearl, Rose, Jamie, and Robert.
Tom also is survived by his brother, James H. Cox and his wife, Marg, of Fort Frances.
Tom Cox was well-known throughout Rainy River District and Northwestern Ontario, and he will be missed by his many friends, relatives, and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at 11 a.m. (CDT) at St Patrick’s Church in Atikokan. Fr. Romeo Antimano will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to the Atikokan General Hospital at 1-807-597-4215.