Former city student dies in Wisconsin accident | News, sports, jobs

Josiah Cox

A former Dunkirk school student died after a motorcycle accident in Milwaukee last week. According to Wisconsin-based Heritage Funeral Home, 20-year-old Josiah Reagan Cox died Thursday following the incident.

Cox and his family moved to Western New York after experiencing Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. He grew up in what he considered his own “Favorite Blue House” in Dunkirk and visited the Campus and Community Children's Center, SUNY Fredonia Youngerman Center, Dunkirk School 5, Dunkirk Middle School and Dunkirk High School.

Dunkirk and Fredonia residents said when they learned of Cox's death, the obituary says “remembered the joy Josiah brought to their lives through his presence and free spirit, from his participation in the Campus and Community Children's Center to the Northern Chautauqua Youth Soccer Association to the Family Martial Arts Center.” Many Families in Dunkirk and Fredonia mourn his passing.”

He moved to West Allis, Wisconsin with his family during the pandemic in 2020 and attended Wisconsin Lutheran High School before graduating from West Allis Central in 2022. He was a sophomore at UW-Milwaukee, studying to be an anesthesiologist and serving in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. As part of his military service, he was scheduled to deploy to the Middle East in May 2025.

He played piano, flute and steel drums. An active and outstanding athlete, he excelled in football and track and field (hurdles and high jump), swam at championship level, played baseball and achieved a second degree black belt in karate.

He is survived by his parents Jonathan and Tedi Cox and his brother Sebastian Cox, grandparents, aunts and uncles and numerous cousins.

“Josiah will be remembered for his ability to make friends wherever he went. He would light up a room and put smiles on the faces of those around him.” says the obituary. “In his 20 years on earth, he touched thousands of lives with his kind, kind, loving and generous spirit. He made everyone around him feel comfortable, loved, included, accepted and valued, which led to many lifelong friendships. Friends remember his sincerity, his sincere heart, his mischievous spirit, his sparkling eyes, his beautiful smile and his quick wit. With his irresistible charm, Josiah characterized every gathering, which he immediately turned into a party.”

The family plans to establish a scholarship fund at the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation in Josiah's memory. Donations may be made in his name to NCCF for the scholarship fund or to the Lutheran Military Support Group.

A Go Fund Me page set up by the family had raised more than $13,600 toward $20,000 in funeral costs. The father posted this note on Monday: “We are deeply grateful for your amazing support. Over the last three days, we realized how many people Josiah touched and positively influenced in ways we didn't appreciate. In his 20 years he has been involved in so many places and achieved so much. Wherever he went, he enriched lives with his friendship and left impressions that will never be forgotten. It was a great blessing to have him among us, and that blessing continues as we learn different perspectives on his influence from the many comments on Facebook and elsewhere.”

This page can be found at