Irvin L. Wood, 77, of Osceola, passed away Friday, August 13, 2010 after a courageous battle with leukemia. Irvin (Woody) was born October 29, 1932 in Rochester, IN to Rex & Beulah (Bryant) Wood. Irvin was one of 13 children and he graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1951. He met the love of his life, Wanda June Spear and the two were married December 27, 1952 in Mishawaka. He was drafted into the Army in 1953 and served during the Korean War as a Medic and was honorably discharged in 1955. He worked in the Power House at Bayer Corporation where he was promoted to Supervisor and retired after 35 years of employment.
Irvin loved working with his hands and was constantly building things. He built his own home and two truck-campers for he and Wanda''s travels all over North America. During their annual vacations to Florida, he rode 35k miles on his bicycle over a 20 year span. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, building antique steam engines, riding scooters with his brother-in-law Don, and spending time with his family. Nothing was more important to him than his family. He doted on all of his "sweeties". Irvin was the best husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle anyone could have asked for. There was never a person he wouldn''t help or an item he couldn''t fix. He was truly a remarkable man who was loved by all who knew him. He will be missed dearly.
Irvin is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Wanda Wood; two daughters, Cheryl (Steve) Frick of Mishawaka and Sheila (Gary) Neice of Granger; seven grandchildren, Christa (Kurt) Gabrielson, Scott Frick, Laura (Josh) Rydzinski, Emily (Chad) Handschu, Abbey Frick, Sean Wakefield and Aubrey Wakefield; eight great-grandchildren, Severin & Gabby Gabrielson, Alyssa & Joshua Handschu and Lillian, Orianna, Aurora & Samuel Rydzinski; his siblings, Ross (Judy) Wood of Mishawaka, IN, Donald (Jane) Wood of Granger, Jerry (Barbara) Wood of Osceola, Pat (Don) Ruff of Osceola, Jane (Don) Slane of Osceola, Phyllis (Gene) Manges of Bremen, Martha (Bob) Brenneman of Osceola, Gloria (Larry) Newcomer of Jimtown, Charles (Hannah) Wood of Moorestown, NJ, Karen (Vurtis) Swank of Walkerton, Norma (Sheldon) Peachey of Union, MI and a special step-sister Joan Ginther of Rochester, IN. Also surviving are brother & sister-in-law, Jean Good of Goshen and Dick (Jean) Spear of Montrose , CO and several nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Rex and Beulah Wood and his brother & sister-in-law, Eugene & Vonda Wood.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00AM Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Hwy, Osceola. Friends may call Tuesday from 4-8PM at the funeral home.
The family''s preferred memorial is the Center for Hospice Care, 22579 Old US 20E. Elkhart, Indiana 46516. The family would like to give special thanks for all the wonderful Hospice caregivers, as well as Dr. Rolan Pascaul and his staff for all the love and care they gave to Irvin.
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