Heather Wilcox

Heather was born on November 8, 1976, the daughter of Robert and Dianna Sleeman, and spent her childhood days on her family’s dairy farm with her parents, brother and grandparents. She especially loved helping with the cows and riding her horse. She was a member of the 4-H program from a young age, proudly showing her horses at the local round-ups and at the county fair. She was a founding member of the 4-H Exchange Club. Her school days were spent at Warren Area High School where she was active in basketball, dairy princess promotion and graduated in 1995. But her heart was always on the farm and with the animals, which led her to study animal science at Penn State University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2000, and returned to Warren County to start her career working with the local USDA office. After several years, she started working with the Conservation District as the agricultural technician, eventually taking on the position of District Manager in 2006. During her 20+ years of working in conservation she made a tremendous impact in the community. She worked with the local farmers to implement best management practices, with the local municipalities to stabilize dirt and gravel roads and educate countless children and adults about the importance of agriculture and the environment. She did all of this with a sense of humor, strong work ethic, integrity, and respect.

Family was the center of Heather’s world. She married her husband Matt Wilcox on August 31, 2002. She also had two children, Tara Sleeman of Hornell, New York, and Tristen Wilcox of Russell. Her favorite times were spent with her family, either in the barn doing chores, competing at a cow show or spending the week at the Warren County Fair. She was always sharing with others about her family, how proud she was of her children, the results of the show over the weekend or when a cow freshened and she and Matt had to take turns in the barn all night.

Heather continued to be active in the 4-H program as an adult, serving as a leader for her children’s 4-H clubs and also for the Teen Council and Development Council, where she held various leadership positions. All the years combined, as a member and as a leader, Heather had over 30 years of involvement in the Warren County 4-H program. There’s no counting the number of lives that she impacted during these years. She also served with her husband, Matt, on the dairy committee at the Warren County Fair, to ensure that all of the dairy exhibitors had the best experience during the shows and throughout the week.

Heather is survived by her husband, Matt, and her children, Tara and Tristen. She is also survived by her parents, Robert and Dianna Sleeman of Warren, brother Aaron Sleeman and his wife Jess of Warren, paternal grandmother, Mary Lou Sleeman of Warren, mother-in-law, Debbie Wilcox of Warren, father-in-law Dave Wilcox and his wife Becky of Russell, sister-in-law, Melissa and her husband of Kyle, Nebraska, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Leo and Arlene Rapp, her paternal grandfather, Thomas Duane Sleeman.

Friends will be received at Peterson-Blick Funeral Home, 1003 Penna Ave. E., Warren, PA, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, and on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, for one hour prior to a funeral service to be held at 12:00 noon, with Reverend Rick Hamrick, pastor, Youngsville Free Methodist, officiating.

Burial to follow at Foster Cemetery, Lander, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Heather’s memory be made to the Warren County Conservation District Scholarship Program, 4000 Conewango Ave., Warren, PA.

Those wishing to send online condolences may do so by visiting www.petersonblickfuneralhome.com.