Stephen C. Wood

Stephen C. Wood, 87,formerly of Mendota, passed away on January 21, 2025, at Goldwater Care in Spring Valley.

Private family graveside services will be in Floral Hill Cemetery in Neponset. The Hurst Funeral Home in LaSalle is assisting the family.  

Stephen was born on March 12, 1937, son of Charles A. and Marjorie (Hill) Wood in Kewanee.

Stephen was raised on his family's farm in Neponset.  He attended grade school there and graduated from Neponset High School in 1955. After graduating high school, he attended the University of Illinois where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering on August 15, 1960

Stephen became a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois on July 23,1965.

He married Janice Olson on June 16, 1957.  Janice preceded him in death on May 3, 2006.

Stephen later married Earlene Hof on September 9, 2008. Earlene preceded him in death on October 25, 2022.

After graduating college, he worked at Link-Belt in Chicago and then moved to Mendota, IL in November of 1963 to work at Black Brothers. Stephen started working in the engineering department, and then later became the head of the engineering department, prior to retiring in November 2001.

For 62 years, Steve was a member of the Mendota Elks Club where he was a past exalted ruler and a trustee. 

Survived by his children, Karen (Rick) Jacobs, of Montello, WI, Christopher Wood of LaSalle, and William (Kory) Wood of Peru; son-in-law Dave Baker of Mendota; five grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, two stepsons, David (Debra) Hof of La Salle and Timothy (Carole) Hof of Cookeville, TN; two step grandchildren; one step great-granddaughter; brother-in-law Bill Smith of Conway, AR; sister-in-law, Pat Olson of Dunlap; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death was his daughter, Kathryn Baker, his wives, his parents, his brother Dan Wood, and sister, Celia Smith.

Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association or Elks Crippled Children.

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