Laurence Wood Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

The funeral service for Laurence Wood a resident of Apple Valley, and formerly of Wadena will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 1, at the United Methodist Church in Wadena with Pastor John Fair presiding. Visitation will be held on Friday at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. and will resume at the church on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service. Laurence Warren Wood was born on August 7, 1929 to Howard and Maude Ethel (Warren) Wood at home outside of Wadena, Minnesota. He was the third of five siblings. Laurence completed his formal education to Grade 8 at District 9 Rural School. He farmed with his father in rural Staples, enlisting in the Army in 1954. Laurence was united in marriage to the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty” Rowe on June 19, 1954 at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Hewitt. He spent just under 2 years in the Army, before returning to farm with his father, raising four children with Betty, while operating a dairy farm and harvesting crops. While farming, Laurence also worked at Zosel’s Wadena Hardware. They sold the farm and moved to rural Wadena in 1968, and Laurence continued at the hardware store for ten years. At age 49, he started his own service repair business “Wood & Son Repair” with his son Mark. In 1994, Laurence semi-retired from this business at age 65, but continued to work with Mark for four more years on a part time basis. Laurence was always full of love for his wife of 60 years, his kids, grandkids and great- grandkids, as well as his extended family. Laurence enjoyed camping in the Airstream with family and fishing and picnics in the yard with kids and grandkids. He was an avid craftsman and wood worker and truly enjoyed making toys, go-carts, birdhouses anything his grandkids and kids asked for. His hobby as well was restoring many models of Farmall tractors. Needless to say, his favorite color was red! He was a joker and passed his humor on to multiple generations. He enjoyed putting ice cubes in the bed of any child or grandchild that was not getting up as early or quickly as he had planned! Laurence and Betty lived in rural Wadena for 49 years, moving to Ecumen Seasons of Apple Valley assisted living in 2012 to be closer to family. Laurence passed away, June 18, 2017, appropriately Father’s Day, surrounded by his family in his home in Apple Valley, MN. He was proceeded in death by his wife, brother, his three sisters and parents. Laurence is survived by his children, Kim (Sally Ann) Nancy (Larry) Matthews, Mark (Sally Jean) and Brenda Ambe; grandchildren, Matthew (Polly); Russell (Andrea); Ryan; Abby (Ethan); Amber; Caleb(Jenny), Josiah, Levi, Mara and Jena; Kristy (Eldred), Lance and Sidney (Roxie); great-grandchildren Callan, Kessley, Emlen, Sidney, Jaylen, Adelaide, Gilbert, Lorelei, Daphne, Kriselle, Madison; sisters-in-law, Marjorie, Judith and Genevieve; loyal friend, Bonnie Richter; and many loving nieces and nephews. The family wishes to extend gratitude to all of the compassionate staff of St. Croix Hospice and Ecumen Seasons at Apple Valley. At the family’s request, memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. Arrangements were with the Schuller Family Funeral Homes’ Johnson-Schuller Chapel, Wadena, MN. (www.SchullerFamilyFH.com)

Laurence Wood

August 7, 1929 - June 18, 2017