Joseph Lee Wood,
age 72, of Porter, Ind., passed away on Monday, April 28, 2014, at the
University of Chicago Medical Center. Joe was born on December 21, 1941, in
Wheeler, Ind., to Elmer and Leona (Beam) Wood, both of whom preceded him in
death.
Joe is survived by
his wife, Marcia (Waters) Wood, whom he married almost 50 years ago on July
18, l964, in Lincoln, Nebraska, at First Plymouth Congregational Church.
Their union
produced three children, all of whom survive: son Garrett (Cindy) Wood of
Pleasant Prairie, Wis., daughters Amber Wood of Porter, Ind., and Tiffany
(Tony) Migliorini of Sullivan, Ind.
Also surviving are
grandchildren Corey (Lucie Rider) and Brooke Wood, Jacob and Gabriel King,
and Matthew and Cole Migliorini and great-granddaughter Roxanne Wood.
Joe is survived by
his sisters Maxine (Pete) Adams of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Kay (Bob) Miller
of San Antonio, Texas, brother Jack (Tanya) Wood of New Port Richey, Fla.
and sister-in-law Raylene Wood of Melbourne, Fla.; along with many nieces
and nephews.
Joe was preceded in
death by his brother William Wood.
Joe served four
years in the United States Air Force as an airplane mechanic and retired
from Inland Steel Co. after 30 years of service as a millwright. Joe was an
avid outdoorsman. He loved to hunt, fish, camp and tended a huge garden
which he shared with neighbors and friends. He was a great cook and canned
the produce from his garden. Joe enjoyed reading western and Native American
books and loved watching sports and war movies on TV. Traveling to visit
grandchildren was a special joy because he was a kid at heart.
Joe attended Porter
United Methodist Church where he helped his wife, Marcia, prepare and serve
the annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner for many years, was a member of
the Duneland Historical Society and volunteered at the Westchester Neighbors
Food Pantry. He also gave of his time helping the elderly with yard work and
home repairs.
A Celebration of
Life will be held on Saturday, May 3, at 11 a.m., with a visitation from 10
a.m. until time of service at the funeral home. Rev. G. Thomas Jones will
officiate.
The family will
receive friends on Friday, May 2, 2014, from 4 until 8 p.m. at White-Love
Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd St., Chesterton.
In lieu of flowers,
memorials may be made to the family or to Porter United Methodist Church ,
100 E. Beam St., Porter, Ind.