Josiah Reagan Cox

Josiah Reagan Cox, age 20, entered eternal glory due to a traffic accident in Milwaukee, WI, on September 26, 2024. He was born on November 27, 2003, in Urbana, IL, the firstborn son of Tedi (Donevska) and Jonathan Cox. He was baptized on December 21, 2003, at Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Urbana, IL, by Pastor Tim Glende and confirmed in the Christian faith on June 10, 2018, by Pastor Paul Jenkins at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Springville, NY.

After living through Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, he relocated with his family to his "favorite blue house" in Dunkirk, NY. He grew up there, attending Campus and Community Children's Center, the SUNY Fredonia Youngerman Center, Dunkirk Elementary School 5, Dunkirk Middle School, and Dunkirk High School. Following a family move to West Allis, WI, during the pandemic in 2020, Josiah attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School before graduating from West Allis Central in 2022. He was a sophomore at UW-Milwaukee, studying to be a nurse anesthetist, and served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. As part of his military service, he was scheduled for deployment to the Middle East in May 2025. He also worked for Badger Brothers Moving Company and 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. Prior to that he worked at Land's End, Outback Steakhouse, Capri di Nuovo, and Jimmy John's. He was always willing to try new things and explore new challenges in life. Josiah was very close to his brother Sebastian and greatly enjoyed the role of big brother. He was an "animal whisperer" with a gentle spirit that was evident in his interactions with animals of all kinds, who naturally gravitated toward him.

An accomplished musician, Josiah played piano, flute, and steel drums. A flurry of motion and a superb athlete, he excelled in soccer and track (hurdles & high jump), swam at a championship level, played baseball, and attained a second-degree black belt in karate. His physical prowess was initially evident in his participation in the Diaper Daredevils Gymnastics program in Monroe, Louisiana. Josiah was a member of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa, where he helped with ushering, serving refreshments, and running AV equipment.

Josiah is survived by his parents, Jonathan and Tedi Cox, and brother Sebastian Cox. He is also survived by his best friend, battle buddy, and brother in Christ Ethan Glaze; grandparents Gary and Diann Cox of Neenah, Wisconsin, and Baba Snezhanka Donevska of Sofia, Bulgaria. Also surviving are aunts and uncles Caroline Cox, Steve (Mindi) Cox, Catherine (Jon-Michael) Blowe, Mira Donevska, Martin Stoychev, and Brian (Krystal) Hildebrand. The firstborn among his cousins, he is survived by Marina, Jon-Issac, Jakoah, and Malachi Blowe, and Henry and Lily Hildebrand. He is survived by many other relatives as well as the whole Christian Church on earth. He was preceded in death by his grandmother Joan Cox and his dyado Borislav Donevsky.

Josiah will be remembered for his ability to make friends wherever he went. He would light up a room and bring smiles to those around him. In his 20 years on earth, he touched thousands of lives with his friendly, kind, loving, and generous spirit. He made everyone around him feel at ease, loved, included, accepted, and cherished, which led to many lifetime friendships. Friends remember his sincerity, genuine heart, mischievous spirit, twinkling eyes, beautiful smile, and quick wit. With irresistible charm, Josiah was the life of any gathering, which he immediately transformed into a party.

Since his death, friends from the Dunkirk and Fredonia area have reminisced about the joy that Josiah brought into their lives by his presence and free spirit, from his participation in the Campus and Community Children's Center, to Northern Chautauqua Youth Soccer Association, to the Family Martial Arts Center. Many families in Dunkirk and Fredonia are mourning his loss, including those of friends Champ, Sebastian, Abi, Nick, Bryson, Shaun, Jimmy, Scotty, Lauren, Grady, Jackson, Cameron, Hannah, Garrett, Gerry, and Skylar.



The family is comforted by knowing Josiah is in Heaven having a blast. Josiah's surviving family and Christian friends love to tell the old, old story, which is Josiah's theme in glory, of Jesus, our Savior, and His immeasurable love.

Josiah's family is forever grateful to all of his coworkers, family members, friends, and pastors who encouraged and influenced him to be the amazing human we now mourn and will continue to remember and honor.

Born with a heart defect and sinful nature, Josiah did not let these obstacles slow him down or limit his love for and service to others. In keeping with his life of service, he chose to be an organ and tissue donor. His donations will improve the lives of more than 50 people who would otherwise face amputations or other serious prognoses.

Josiah is safe in Heaven now, free from all sin, pain, and suffering. While those of us left behind must find our way forward through pain and suffering without him, we look forward to being reunited with him in Heaven. We, his family members, are certain that it will be a blast when Josiah greets us.

Visitation Saturday, October 5, 2024 at St. John's Lutheran Church, 7809 Harwood Avenue in Wauwatosa from 9:00 AM until 11:45 AM. Funeral Service to follow at 12:00 Noon.

The family is extremely grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the community and gratefully declines floral arrangements. They plan to establish a scholarship fund in Josiah's memory at the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF) of Western New York. Donations may be made in his name to NCCF for the scholarship fund or to the Lutheran Military Support Group.

Please visit www.HeritageFuneral.com for Josiah's memorial donation details.