Elaine Wood

Elaine S. Wood, age 87 of Cassville, passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born near Lakota, Iowa, on October 29, 1935, the daughter of Floren “Pat” and Eva (Goodrich) Sanders. Elaine graduated from high school in Lakota, Iowa, and furthered her education at Mankato Business School in Minnesota. She began her career as a legal secretary at Spohn Ross Stevens Lamb & Pick in Madison, Wisconsin. It was there that she worked with Beverly Rech, who set Elaine up on a blind date with Bev’s first cousin Loyle Wood.  On January 21, 1956, she was united in marriage to Loyle K. Wood in a blizzard snowstorm in Madison, with a reception in Prairie Du Chien. After their marriage, they lived briefly in Whitewater, Wis. In 1957 they moved to the Cassville area to begin farming on the Wood Family Farm and raised their eight children. In the late 1970s, Elaine became employed with the Cassville Village Clerk’s office, where she worked for more than 20 years. She was a member of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Cassville, and later at Zion Lutheran Church in Bagley. Elaine and Loyle enjoyed traveling, fishing, watching movies and card club. In her spare time, she was an avid reader, and also enjoyed baking and gardening. Elaine dearly loved her family and spending time with her grandchildren.

Surviving are her children: Stuart, Steve (Ann), Sandy, Shawn (Dena), Susan (Mitch) Degenhardt, and Spencer Wood; a daughter-in-law Kathleen “Kathy” Wood; ten grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; a sister-in-law: Mary Louise Sanders; and other relatives.

 Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Loyle, two sons: Stacey and Stanley “Stan”; and a brother Richard Sanders.

In keeping with Elaine’s wishes, a private funeral service will be held for immediate family. A private family burial will be in the Cassville Cemetery. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Cassville is assisting the family. In lieu of plants and flowers, an Elaine S. Wood Memorial Fund has been established, with proceeds being given to the Cassville EMS, PO Box 666, Cassville, Wisconsin 53806.