Rex Elwood Wise, Fireman First Class, U.S. Navy, lost his life on 12/7/1941 when Pearl Harbor, HI was attacked. He was stationed on the U.S.S. Oklahoma which capsized at that time. He died along with 400 or more sailors. His remains were identified from the defense POW-MIA Accounting Agency.

He was born on October 14, 1920 in Braman, Oklahoma the son of Henry Blaine Wise and Belle Marlow Stacy Wise. He was raised in the Braman, Oklahoma and South Haven, Kansas areas. He attended school in the Braman area where he was on the basketball team.

He enlisted in the United States Navy 12/27/1939 and earned several medals.

He was never married.

Rex grew up in a large, hard-working family. Together they raised a large garden, with the whole family working together to sell produce to local families. Grandma Wise was proud of all of her children. Once on a Sunday drive, they stopped for gasoline. The young boy waiting on them asked if they were on a Sunday school picnic. Grandma Wise replied, "young man, I'll have you know these children are all mine!"

Rex was preceded in death by his parents, as well as all of his siblings: Ray C. Stacy of Oregon, Bernice I. Stacy Lengkeek of Nebraska, Lawrence Everett Wise of Blackwell, Oklahoma,  Marie Isabel Wise Sutton of Wamego, Kansas, Lelia Frances Elizabeth Wise Lalicker Strader of Washington, Eunice Evelyn Wise Wittum of Braman, Oklahoma, Lee Henry Wise of Ohio, Ruby Leona Wise Robinson Strickland of Arizona, and one infant brother that died at birth.

He is survived by nieces and nephews: Helen Sutton Weller of Manhattan, Kansas, Marjorie Sutton Durkes of Topeka, Kansas, Mary Jane Sutton Mahoney of Norway, Iowa, Marylyn Wittum Bergman Weller of Clay Center, Kansas, Karen Wittum of Braman, Oklahoma, Rodney Wise of Blackwell, Oklahoma, Conrad Lalicker of Los Angeles, California, Sherry Lalicker Christensen of Olalla, Washington, Henry Lee Wise of Dayton, Ohio, Debbie Wise of Ohio.

Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at Braman Cemetery in Braman, Oklahoma. This would have been the 100th birthday of Mr. Wise.