Marilyn Wood

Marilyn Wood (nee Thompson) January 10, 1925-August 22, 2016 Marilyn sustained a head injury after a fall at home on Friday, August 12th. She never regained consciousness after having surgery. At the age of 91, the injury was just too serious for our "Energizer Bunny" to overcome. She was such a "miracle survivor" after many cardiac issues, but God called her home to rest after this episode. Even on that fateful morning, she had driven herself to the beauty salon and did some shopping on the way home, before she took a tumble on the ramp we had built for her to reach her front door. She was a strong independent woman, as she had shown us these last five years since her beloved husband, Gordon, passed (April 29, 2011). Born at home in Hoopeston, IL, the youngest of three children. She attended local schools where she met and fell in love with Gordon Wood. Their courtship almost ended when her family moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan, her junior year. However, they managed to continue to see one another until Marilyn completed her sophomore year at Michigan State University. At that time, Gordon was stationed in Montgomery, AL. It was the end of WWII and things were hard. Marilyn took a bus from Michigan to Alabama, where they were wed in a small chapel far from home. So began their 65 years of marriage. After several moves and the addition of two daughters, Karen Mae and Kathleen Ann, Marilyn found herself at home, a full-time mother. At that time, she decided to go to work and was employed as a chartographer at the DuPage County Map Department. During the 20 years she worked there, she became Director of the Department. However, after the birth of her first grandchild, Cheryl Mae, she retired to become a full-time "Nana" and she loved her new role. As time moved on, she was the proud Nana of three more grandchildren: Mark Edward Siebert, Elizabeth Ann Poe and Bryan Gordon Poe. And the blessing of two great-grandchildren: Jamison Grace Siebert and Fisher Joelan Siebert, brought her much joy. During her lifetime, Marilyn was more than once involved in "church planting," first at Faith United Methodist in Lisle, IL, and lastly at Naperville Bible Church (now Grace Pointe), Naperville, IL. She was very active with Gordon in a group called, Lay Witnesses, who shared God and their faith with many churches along their way. She was so firm in her belief and she lived her witness to family and friends by her life every day. Marilyn leaves a legacy in two daughters, a son in-law, a granddaughter in-law, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, three sisters in-law, and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Earl, parents Clifford and Ethel Thompson, brother in-law and sister, Robert and Dorothy Pinnegar, and brother, Ward Thompson, brothers' in-law, Danny Wood, Ronald Wood, and sister's in-law, Joyce Wood, and Jan Wood. Marilyn loved the Lord. A celebration of Marilyn's life will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 2:00 PM at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center 3940 North Vermilion St. Danville, IL 61834 with Pastor Scott McCurdy officiating. She will be laid to rest at Springhill Cemetery in Danville. Donations can be made to the American Heart Association. Please join Marilyn's family in sharing photos and memories on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com