William Joseph Wood

William Joseph Wood, age 95, passed away Oct. 12th at Parsons House Assisted Living Facility in Omaha, Nebraska.



Bill was born in Red Oak Iowa, January 4, 1926 to Ruby Jean Wood, and Joseph William Wood. He grew up on the family farm west of Red Oak. He attended country school and then Red Oak High School, graduating in 1944.



After graduating from high school, Bill served in the Army Air Corps until the end of WWII. He married Mary Illingworth on Aug. 6, 1947. They had four sons, Steve, Mike, Joe and Jim. Bill farmed the family farm until 1995.



He turned a love of horses into competing in calf roping and steer wrestling at rodeos, and was one of the original founders of the United Rodeo Association.



Bill was also a founder of the Red Oak Red Sox baseball team, and served as their PA announcer from 1980-1987.



Bill was a lifelong Nebraska football fan.



After retiring from farming, and Mary’s passing, he married Annette Bench on April 26,2002. They have resided in Omaha, NE since 2002.



Bill is survived by his wife Annette and his sons and their spouses: Steve and Linda of Kearney, MO, and their children, Ben, Bryce and Megan. Mike and Geri of Emerson, IA, and their children Ryan, Sarah, and Chris. Joe, and his wife, Patti of Cleveland, TN and their children, Lauren and Kyle. Jim and Karla, of Red Oak, and their sons, Brad and Zach. Bill is also survived by 17 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepsons in Omaha, Blake and wife Shawn, Seth and Sam, Brent and Amy and children Baylee and Luke, and Brook and Amy, their children Bode and Bria. He is also survived by his nephew Jon Gustafson, and many friends and relatives.



Services: Friday, October 15, 11am at the 72nd Street Chapel.



Interment Friday 2:30pm at the Evergreen Cemetery in Red Oak, IA.



Visitation: Thursday, Oct 14, 5pm-8m at the 72nd Street Chapel.



Memorials to the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Court of Honor.





































JOHN A. GENTLEMAN MORTUARIES AND CREMATORY

1010 North 72 Street 402-391-1664 www.johnagentleman.com