Wood, Warren W. 1921-1987

WOOD, KNOCH

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 10/28/2015 at 03:53:38

Hawarden Independent October 29, 1987

Warren W. Wood, 66, of Naperville, former chairman of the board and president of the Naperville National Bank and Trust Company, died Sunday, October 18, 1987, in Edward Hospital. Mr. Wood began his career at the bank in 1953, as a teller management trainee. After a series of promotions, he was elected president in 1964 and held that position until 1980. He then stepped down as chairman of the board and chief executive officer, but continued to serve the bank as senior vice president and director until the fall of 1986.

Born September 30,1921, in Hawarden, Mr. Wood enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941, and held the rank of Chief Petty Officer at the time of his discharge in 1946. Having been aboard the U.S. St. Louis during the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, he was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors organization. Mr. Wood attended Iowa State University and Iowa State Teachers College (now Northern Iowa University, from which he was graduated in 1951. While a student and member of the golf team there, he first met Doris Knoch, of Naperville, on the golf course and the two were married in a Naperville ceremony on June 9, 1951.

Recalled to the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, he taught at the Great Lakes Naval Base for the next several years. He came to Naperville in 1953, and first worked as an equipment engineer for the Western Electric Company. During his career in Naperville, Mr. Wood was a director of several civic organizations, including the Naperville Heritage Society and the Illinois Bankers Assn. He was a charter member of the Naperville Charity Fund, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, CAN/DO, a member of the Naperville Rotary Club and an active fundraiser for many community organization An avid golf enthusiast, Mr. Wood was a member of the Board of the Chicago District Golf Association and a former president of the Northwest Golf League. He has recently been elected treasurer of the CDGA and was chairman of the association's courserating committee. In recent years, he had served as a golf coach at the College of DuPage.

His golfing achievements included a total of five holes-in-one and the winning of three qualifying rounds to become eligible to play in United States Golf Association Senior Tournaments. He also earned the title of Club Champion on three separate occasions at both the Naperville Country Club and Cress Creek Country Club. A 30-year member and former board member of the Naperville Country Club, he tied the course record of 67, held by the former club professional and recently won the club's annual Indian Derby Tournament, repeating his victory in the first Derby held in 1978. In recent years, he divided his golf time between Naperville and Mission, TX, where he belonged to the Cimarron Country Club.

In addition to his wife, Doris, Mr. Wood is survived by five daughters, Gay Albrecht of West Germany, Beth Wood of Washington, D.C., Jean Beckemeier and Alice Sandrick of Naperville and Bridget Wood of Estes Park, CO; two sons, Larry of West Germany and George of Naperville; , and six grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers, Jerry and George of Hawarden; two sisters, Margaret Lichty of Carleton, NE, and Gwen Gant of Danville, CA; and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellis and La Von Wood.

Funeral services were held at 9 a.m. Thursday, October 22, 1987, in the Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home. A 9:30 a.m. Mass at SS. Peter and Paul Church was held. Interment was in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery. Visitation hours were from 2 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, at the funeral home. Memorials in Mr. Wood's name may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.