ABERDEEN — The funeral service for Rev. Michael Wood, 68, of Aberdeen, will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 8, at Aberdeen Alliance Church, with Pastor Adam Franken officiating. Burial will be at Ideal Cemetery in Huron. Michael died Saturday, March 1, 2025, on the last day of a wonderful vacation in Costa Rica.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday, followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Aberdeen Alliance Church.
Michael Wood was born March 8, 1956, to Paul and Beverly (Mumma) Wood in Fond Du Lac, Wis. His childhood and school-age years were spent in Chilton, Wis., Tracy, Minn., Hamlet, Neb., and Osage, Iowa; finally graduating high school in St. Paul, Minn. After graduation he furthered his education and attended St. Paul Bible College (now Crown College), graduating in 1980, and later North America Baptist Seminary, graduating in 1991.
On Sept. 3, 1977, Michael married Janelle Decker at Huron Mission Church in Huron. Together, they lived for two years in Minnesota to finish college. Mike spent the next several years serving on staff in churches in Huron, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen while he and Janelle raised their family.
In 1993, they moved to Waconia, Minn., where Michael served for 22 years on staff at Crown College. In 2013, Michael and Janelle moved back to Aberdeen where he became the pastor of Aberdeen Alliance Church until retirement in 2023.
Michael was a man of faith and loved Jesus with all his heart. He loved being a pastor and caring for his congregation. Music was a big part of his life. He was a skilled pianist and used his skills whenever he had the chance to bring joy to others. He enjoyed traveling, gardening, and cooking. It was common for him to wake up before everyone else to prepare elaborate breakfasts including homemade caramel rolls. He was always ready for a fun card game, and will be remembered by his family for his kindness, selflessness, sweet hugs and wonderful sense of humor including a wide repertoire of “lame” dad-jokes.
Grateful for having shared Michael’s life are his wife, Janelle Wood; children: Andrea Nell, Nathan (Naomi) Wood, Ryan (Allie) Wood, and Emilee (Kevin) Woebke; grandchildren: Trinity (Mathew) Martin, Faith (Samuel) Griffin, Hannah Nell, Caeden Ryerse, Bronc Wood, Gage Wood, Maya Ann Wood, Sierra Wood, Evan Wood, Carolyn Wood, Annie Wood, and Audrey Wood; siblings: Bernard Wood, Kathryn Russell, Douglas Wood, David Wood, and Elaine Holty; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family.
Preceding Michael in death are his parents Paul and Beverly Wood; and parents-in-law, Harold and Thelma Decker.
