WOOD, Margaret T. (1936-2023)

WOOD

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/28/2023 at 21:17:40

Margaret Theresa Wood
(October 18, 1936 - March 26, 2023)

The force of nature that was Margaret Wood suddenly left us on Sunday afternoon, March 26, 2023, and we cannot picture life without her.
She was born in Corwith, Iowa, on October 18, 1936, the oldest of the six children of Art and Alice Kelch. After Margaret came Eugene, Donna (Larry) Maher, Duane (Ruthann), Jerry (Enid Rosenthal), and David (Mary Beth), all whom she loved and lectured. Eugene died in 2014. His wife Sharon, and Margaret’s other siblings and their spouses survive, as do many nieces and nephews, as well as, beloved nieces and nephews by marriage, and another sister-in-law, Janet Wood. Margaret was especially close with her only sister, Donna Maher, of Mt. Pleasant. After graduating high school, Margaret wanted to “see the world,” and did something adventurous for a girl in that time—she took a job with an airline, and traveled to Atlanta to undergo training to be what was then called a “stewardess.” During training, she contracted mono. In the pre-FMLA, pre-HIPAA world, she was let go and had to return to Iowa. But this turn of bad luck was good luck for those of us she leaves behind. While working in Des Moines, she met an insurance adjuster fresh from military service in England just after the Korean era, Donald Wood of Indianola. They were united in marriage on October 12, 1957, and had nearly 60 wonderful years together until Don passed away in June, 2017. After marriage, and after the kids got into school, Margaret worked a number of jobs, most notably nearly 20 years at Simpson College, managing the bookstore there, until she retired in 2001. She retained many friends from Simpson, and from other college bookstores, and she was always, until her passing, an avid reader, member of book clubs, and booster of good books of all sorts. After Don’s passing, Margaret downsized from the Indianola family home of several decades, into a home in Norwalk.
Margaret and Don had three children, all of whom survive her. First came Doug (Sonya), of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and their daughter Sophia. Second came Diane (Peter) Sand, of Urbandale, Iowa, and children Abigail (Justin) Brandl (and their boys Emerick, Anders and Luca) of Pella, Wilson (Kylie) LeGrand (and their daughter Lucy) of Johnston, Allison Sand, and Laynie Sand, both of the latter in college. Third came Dan (Nancy), of Norwalk, and children Justin (Shelby) Warnock (and their daughters Lenny and Palmer) of Norwalk, Dillon Wood (significant other Hope Butler) of Norwalk, and Lauren Wood of Chicago. Margaret always considered as family, former son-in-law Jim LeGrand of Monroe, Iowa, and his family.
Margaret was incredibly special and central to the lives of her children and grandchildren. Mom/Grandma/Gigi could do anything and would do anything for them. Her awesome Easter egg hunt at Buxton Park is still talked about and she made darn sure that everyone in the immediate family got their fair share of time and fun at the beloved cabin. Her constant efforts to take care of family and friends could fill volumes, and her absence will leave a sharp void for us all.
To say that Margaret (“Don’t ever call me Peggy”) was a strong personality is an extreme understatement. Margaret was the strongest personality in the lives of most of the people who knew her. You always knew where you stood with Margaret and her exhortations to live better and be better were beneficial to all that were under her influence. Margaret had a congenital condition of an aneurysm, or bulge/weakness in her descending aorta. It was a concern, because it could suddenly give way and end her life, or it could just stay the same indefinitely. She lived with faith and determination right up to Sunday afternoon, March 26, when the aneurysm gave way and she went to her heavenly reward, and to be re-united with Don. There is no good way to say goodbye to someone so important in our lives, but we try to dwell on the lack of any lengthy period of pain and suffering, and not dwell solely on how much more we wanted from her presence in the years to come.
A visitation for family and friends will be held at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola from 5-8 p.m., on Monday, April 10, the day after the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. A rosary will be said for the repose of Margaret’s soul at 7:30 p.m. Margaret’s funeral mass will be at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish (of which she and Don were one of the founding couples), which is on highway 92 at the west end of Indianola, at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11. Margaret will then be taken to I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Indianola for burial next to Don, and then a luncheon will be served back at the parish. If anyone would like to make a donation in memorial to Margaret, they are asked to direct it to the Indianola Public Library, as she was a believer in supporting one’s local library wherever you are. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon her. May she and all of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. [This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/]