Morris Edward

Wickliffe

Morris Edward Wickliffe, age 81, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2025, at Rainbow Hospice Care Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek after a brief illness and with his wife Vicki by his side.

Morris was born in Conway, Arkansas on October 23, 1944, to Hugh and Mabel Louise (Adams) Wickliffe.  One of four children, Morris grew up making mischief with his siblings Bernice, John, and Jim. He also grew up surrounded by a group of cousins who affectionately nicknamed him "Mopsy" and at family reunions one could see Morris and his cousins thick as thieves catching up on their lives.

After graduating from Arkansas Tech University, Morris attended the University of Wisconsin to pursue his PhD in physics. His time at UW intersected with the Vietnam War protests.  The Sterling Hall bombing coincidentally blew up his research and it took him several years longer than expected to finish his PhD program. It was at UW that he met his future wife Vicki Anne (Potratz), who finally said yes after the third time he asked her to marry him.  They were married in December 1969. While COVID cancelled their plans for a 50th wedding anniversary celebration, they were happy to celebrate the 55th with family and friends in the summer of 2025.

Morris and Vicki moved to Lake Mills after he received his PhD. He was a professor at UW-Waukesha for 24 years teaching physics and astronomy and did physics research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during summers and sabbaticals. Morris and Vicki raised two children, Charlie and Kara, and had numerous family adventures along the way. Morris put in many hours building a club house, driving kids to music lessons and other activities, and doing his best to listen to early elementary school concerts without closing his eyes too hard in pain ("I was just listening!").

In retirement, Morris and Vicki loved to travel. They visited a number of European countries, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Canada as well as many US states and national parks, and attended a Badger Rose Bowl game. If there was tea, carrot cake, or chocolate torte anywhere in the world, Morris wanted to try it. He also took his civic duties seriously, volunteering on the Public Works Board and being a permanent flowerbed volunteer (the duties and perks of being married to the flowerbed coordinator).  Morris also enjoyed playing cards at Club 55 and Senior Connections and relished being the only man most of the time.  He never did seem to retire: at any restaurant table, one could find him scribbling calculus equations on a napkin to make sure he still remembered the formulas. Morris could also do many things he put his mind to after a little study, including carpentry and electrical tasks. (It might be a year or two later than requested, but the task would be done well.)

Morris is survived by his wife Vicki; children Charlie Wickliffe of Lake Mills and Kara (Joe) Casteel of Inver Grove Heights MN; granddaughters Cora and Kate Casteel of Inver Grove Heights MN; sister Bernice Yeargan (Grady Barton) of Benton AR; brother Jim (Jill) Wickliffe of Tampa FL; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother John Wickliffe.

A celebration of Morris' life will take place in the spring. The family wishes to thank Rainbow Hospice for its compassionate care and support. To share a memory or leave condolences visit www.claussenfuneralhome.com.  If desired, memorials may be made to the L.D. Fargo Public Library Improvement Fund (https://www.lmacf.org/funds)  or Rainbow Hospice (https://rainbowcommunitycare.org).