JEANNIE WOOD

JEANNIE WOOD

Jeannie Wood passed away peacefully at the family home in the loving care of her two sons Max and Sam Wood. Jeannie was born Miriam Jeannine Brooks­bank on June 2, 1958 to Dr. Emasue Snow and George Richard Brooks­bank. Following her divorce Dr. Snow remarried Gerald “Jerry” Michael O’Connor, who was a loving husband and father to Jeannie and her siblings until his sudden death in 1973.

Jeannie was born in Peoria, Illinois, but grew up in N.Y.C. until the family moved to Springfield, Mo. In 1973. While living in N.Y.C., and attending school, Jeannie also studied acting and loved to visit New York’s art museums. In Springfield she attended Parkview High School followed by Boulder University in Boulder Colorado, and graduated from Drury College in 1981 with a degree in Biology and Chemistry. While attending Drury, she met and dated her future husband, Terry Wood. Following graduation from college, Jeannie attended St. John’s Medical Technology program, and worked at St. John’s until her marriage to Terry in 1983. Jeannie moved to Columbia, Mo. And worked as a medical technologist while Terry attended the University of Missouri School of Medicine. She followed Terry’s medical career, working as a Medical Technologist throughout his internship in Grand Rapids, Mich., and Residency program in Indianapolis, Ind., making an abundance of friends throughout her travels.

Jeannie and Terry settled in Ft. Dodge, Iowa where Dr. Wood practiced as an Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgeon and Jeannie worked as a Medical Technologist until their first son, Max, was born in Oct 1992. Their Second son, Sam was born in May of 1996. Jeannie was an active volunteer with Fort Dodge’s welcome association New Comers, and at the local library while her sons were young. In 1996 Dr. Wood was diagnosed with Lymphoma, and then in 2001, Jeannie was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Jeannie continued her education, obtaining her Masters degree from Iowa State University, so she could teach. Jeannie taught at a variety of places, and often had humorous stories to share about the clever students she loved to be with. Jeannie fought a long and courageous 16-year battle while raising her family. Jeannie was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband of 30 years, Dr. Terrance Lee Wood, in May 2014. In her final years Jeannie enjoyed traveling in the company of her friends and family. She traveled to Alaska, D.C., Missouri, Chicago, New York, and California. Near the end she was surrounded by many local friends and family and enjoyed watching classical movies and hours of IPTV and C-Span.

She is survived by her two sons, Max Wood (Chicago, IL.) and Sam Wood (Ames IA.); her brother George R. O’Connor and wife Pat O’Connor; her sister Suzi Agee and husband David Agee; nephews Ryan O’Connor, Ben Agee, and Jeff Agee. She is also survived by so many endearing friends, too numerous to list, that enriched her life as she did theirs. Jeannie will be forever missed.

Services for Jeannie will be held Wed. June 7th at 6:30 pm at the Kennedy Park Shelter House in Fort Dodge IA. In lieu of flowers please send money to the Friends of Webster County Conservation.