Nancy Wood, 83, of Middleton went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at Country Friends Assisted Living of Sumner.
Nancy was born in Breckenridge, Michigan on July 26, 1940 and was the daughter of Ernest Goetz and Clarice Newhall.
Nancy graduated from Ithaca High School in 1958. She was a stay at home mom and babysat several children until she went to work as a pharmacy technician for Ithaca Drug and Sabo Pharmacy and retired in 1987. She was ordained a minister on February 2, 2005 at Amazing Grace Church by Dr. Richard Jolliff. Her heart was to let others know that Jesus Christ loves them and wants to be Lord of their lives. She was a gospel singer for many years and recorded several albums and received many key awards from the Michigan Gospel Music Association. She ministered in many churches, jails, prisons and went on work missions to Mexico and Honduras with World Gospel Mission as well as several lay witness missions in the US.
Her passion was to sing gospel music and preach in the men’s prisons in Carson City and St. Louis. She wanted the men to know that no matter what they had done, that they are not alone and that there is hope in Jesus.
She loved spending time with her family. She is survived by her children: James (Diane Merchant) Gross of Ithaca, Susan (Andy) Grosnickle of Potterville, Bob (Jessica) Gross of Tallmadge Ohio, Angie (Fred) Szelag of Mt Pleasant, step-children Ann (Steve) McNair of Charlotte, Susan (Dr. Paul) Worley of Ithaca, Laurie Thurman of Ft. Wayne Indiana, several grand-children and great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews, her brother John (Phyllis) Goetz of Glenmore Pennsylvania, her sisters Jeanie Soucie of St. Louis, Michigan and Judy Beatty of Madison Alabama, her half sister and brother Carol Buck and Charlie Goetz; and her step-mother, Louise Freeman.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Raymond Gross, her second husband, Norman Wood, granddaughter, Michaelle Rehmann, brother Carl Goetz, and her half sister Jennifer "Jenner" Mansen.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 11:00 am at Amazing Grace Church in Wheeler, with Dr. Richard Jolliff officiating. Visitation will be at 10:00 am before the service. A luncheon will be served. Burial will be at a later date in Ithaca Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Country Friends Assisted Living or Amazing Grace Church for their members working in prison ministries.
The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home of Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.