Dr. William Cox

William David Cox, M.D., 88, of Pecatonica, Illinois, passed away peacefully during the evening of June 10, 2025.

Bill, as he was known to family and friends, was born in River Forest, Illinois on February 18, 1937 to Mary Helen (McCracken) and Edward Cox. He was the second of seven children. He attended St. Luke Parish School and Fenwick High School. He left Illinois to attend St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, Minnesota. Bill went on to earn his Medical Degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago. He completed residencies at St. Anne’s Hospital and at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. As a highly regarded cardiovascular thoracic surgeon, Bill was recruited by Rockford Surgical Service to initiate the first heart surgery program at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford, Illinois. He practiced medicine in Rockford for decades before retiring in 1997.

Bill and Carol (Nadolny) Cox were married on February 13, 1982. They built a home in Pecatonica to live on a farm where Bill could grow corn and soybeans and raise angus cattle and thoroughbred horses – when he wasn’t practicing medicine. He was fond of saying his true calling was to be a farmer, but his parents insisted he be a physician instead. Bill saved and enhanced many lives during his career and was always available to a family member or friend who wanted to discuss a medical issue. He was known to advise “everything in moderation,” including some of his favorites: Tennessee whiskey, bacon and eggs, and lamb with mint jelly. Bill and Carol were longtime members of the Cathedral of St. Peter Catholic Church.

Bill is survived by his wife Carol (Nadolny) Cox, his children William Cox, Jr., Joan Mullins, David Cox, Mary Cox, Ann Cox, Kate Neer, Nell Cox, Joseph Bruscato, James Bruscato, Jay Bruscato, Mary Gorsline, his nine sons and daughters-in-law, his 20 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents Mary Helen (McCracken) Cox and Edward Cox, his brothers Edward Cox, Jr. and John Cox, and his daughter Elizabeth Cox.

The Cox family would like to thank the dedicated staff at Highview in the Woodlands for their diligent care over the past two years.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made either to the Poor Clare Colettine Nuns at the Corpus Christi Monastery in Rockford, Illinois (https://www.rockfordpoorclares.org) or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org).

A visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2025 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home Riverside Chapel at 3910 N. Rockton Avenue, Rockford, Illinois. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Cathedral Church at 1243 N. Church Street, Rockford, Illinois. Burial will follow in Calvary Catholic Cemetery.