Johanna Wood

Johanna Zeigel Wood

Johanna Zeigel Wood, 87, of Kirksville passed away Monday, April 14, 2014, at Northeast Regional Medical Center. Born June 12, 1926 in Kirksville, Missouri, she was the only child of Roland and Helen Gardner Zeigel, who preceded her in death.

Johanna was raised in Kirksville and attended Northeast Missouri Teachers College, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Music. For several years she sang opera and big band music in St Louis before travelling to Berlin in 1956 to serve those in the military and liaison for visiting VIPS. Here she met and married William Stanley Wood on Valentine’s Day, 1958.

She, her husband and daughters travelled all over the world, from Berlin to Monterrey and to such places as Panama and Okinawa, moving 36 times in 16 years, and still, she and her daughters returned to Kirksville and Spring Lake in the summers. In 1968 she returned to Kirksville permanently as an active homemaker who loved to cook, knit, sew, and care for her daughters and grandchildren. She was a life-long member of Cardinal Key, and of the First Presbyterian Church.

As anyone who knew Johanna knows, she loved and cared for her own and others’ beloved dogs with great joy and passion. Her musical favorites included Handel’s “Messiah,” Joann Strauss’ opera “Die Fledermaus,” and the composer Gustave Mahler. Her favorite performer was Florence Justice Jennings.

Johanna is survived by her daughters, Catherine Wood and spouse Marsha Ralston of McAllen,

TX, and Elizabeth Wood DeWitt of Kirksville; three grandchildren, Geoffrey DeWitt and wife Carolyn of Muncie, IN, Meghan Weber and husband Matt of Moberly, MO and Zachary DeWitt of Sedalia, MO; and three great-grandchildren, Ian DeWitt and Sophia and Grayson Weber. She also leaves behind many, many beloved daughters of her heart who looked up to and loved Johanna, and knew they were loved by her.

Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday April 17 at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, 2100 E. Shepherd Ave, Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 18 at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home. Burial will be in Maple Hills Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Ben Beard, Brad Beard, Burt Beard, Mike Summers, Bob Gardner and Bill Gardner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Johanna may be made for victims of domestic violence to

Mujeres Unidas , 511 N. Cynthia St., McAllen, TX 78501;

Victims Support Services, 213 Washington St, Kirksville, Missouri, 63501;

or your local agency.