Jonathan "Jay" Wood Obituary (1944

Jonathan D. "Jay" Wood, age 76, of Wisconsin Rapids, passed away Monday, April 26, 2021 at Aspirus Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids. Funeral services, followed by an Eastern Star Service and Masonic Memorial Service, will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. Joshua Pegram will officiate the funeral service. Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services on Saturday at the funeral home. Jay was born June 28, 1944 in Los Angeles, CA to Harris and Elsie Wood. He attended and graduated from Hemet Union High School in 1962. In the fall of 1962, he took a trip around the world with his mother. In 1963, Jay enlisted in the US Navy and served on the USS Ticonderoga CVA 14 in the Tonkin Gulf for four years as an Electrician Mate and at the completion of duty received an honorable discharge. 1n 1968, Jay started to work for General Telephone (now Verison) and met his wife, Nancy J. Thompson, who he married on May18, 1968. Jay and Nancy moved to Wisconsin in 1972. Jay worked as a general contractor/electrician for 30 years. He also worked for Consolidated Papers Inc. (Consoweld Division), the Stevens Point Paper Mill (Newpage), and as an over the road semi-driver until his retirement. Jay was a member and Past Master of Wisconsin Rapids Lodge 128 Free and Accepted Masons and Order of the Eastern Star Rainbow Chapter 67 of Wisconsin Rapids. He furthered his Masonic education as both a Scottish Rite and York Rite Mason, serving as Most Illustrious Grand Master from 2010-2011. Jay was a member of Zor Shrine and served as a hospital dad, transporting many area patients to Shriner's Hospitals for Children in Minneapolis and Chicago. Jay is survived by his son, Jonathan (Shelley) Wood and grandson Jonathan Wood, all of Wisconsin Rapids; and a special friend, Brian McDowell of Hewitt. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Nancy, and daughter Jayne Wood.