Del and Paulette Fox (center back) pose with their grandchildren currently playing fall sports in Kimball. In front, from left, are Carter Holtz, Lucas Jurek, Zack Holtz, and Alex Nelson; in back are Noah Jurek, Emma Antigua, Del Fox, Paulette (Woody) Fox, Maddi Fox, and Greg Antigua. Staff photo by Ariel Laabs.
Forty-seven years of marriage, four kids, 14 grandchildren, and countless sporting events. These are the stats but not the story. Del and Paulette (Zwack) Fox were high school sweethearts. Del graduated in 1969 and participated in football and wrestling and Paulette graduated in 1970, and participated in cheerleading because female sports were not yet an option. They wasted no time after graduation and married Sept. 25, 1971. Blessed with four children, they kept extremely busy running their family farm and attending the kids’ sporting and school events.
But that was nothing compared to the event schedule of the next generation. This year alone eight of their 14 grandchildren are playing on Kimball varsity fall sports teams – football and volleyball. Their retirement fun is filled with attending every sporting event in which their grandchildren are participating. Their family motto could be summed up as, “Those who work together and play together will stick together.”