Michael David Wood, 66, a lifelong resident of Waterbury, passed away in the comfort of his wife, family and close friends at the Vermont Respite House in Williston on Friday evening, January 8, 2016, as a result of a tragic accident. Born in Montpelier on August 29, 1949, he was the son of the late Edgar A. Wood Sr. and Madeleine (Chouinard) Wood Cook. On November 7, 1970, he married the former Marsha Lacaillade in Richmond.
Mike grew up in Waterbury Center on the family farm, attended schools in Waterbury and was a 1969 graduate of Harwood Union High School in Duxbury. From a young age Mike was armed with a strong work ethic and an easygoing, convivial personality, which was coveted by his employers and the many friends he made throughout his life.
He began work for E. F. Wall Construction, a career that spanned over 20 years, and then was currently employed at GlobalFoundries (formerly IBM) by the Fluor Corporation, working in facilities maintenance for nearly 20 years. Mike, in addition to his full-time employment, worked part time as a chef at the Spruce Pond Inn in Stowe and at Tanglewoods Restaurant in Waterbury and as a clerk at Billings Mobil in Waterbury.
His memberships included the Waterbury Center Volunteer Fire Department (over 25 years), the Son’s of the American Legion Post 59 of Waterbury and the Knights of Columbus - Father Galligan Council 2085 of Waterbury. He was a member and vice president of the Post 59 American Legion Riders and he was an active participant and member of the annual Crossroads Motorcycle Rally. True to his Native American heritage, Mike was an active and valued member of the Eastern Sovereign Abenaki Nation for many years.
In his leisure time, Mike was a gifted craftsman in woodworking and creating custom- made hunting knives with Robert Bordeaux. He enjoyed maple sugaring with the Grenier’s, riding his motorcycle, fishing, the annual hunting season spent at the Billy Goat Hill Hunting Camp with Bob Mallin and crew and cherishing time with family and friends during the summer at Camp Skyland in South Hero.
Mike is survived by his wife of 45 years, Marsha Wood of Waterbury Center; their children, Jennifer Wood of Claremont, New Hampshire, and Christopher Wood and his wife Susan of Waterbury; three grandchildren, Spencer Robtoy, Althea Robtoy and Teras Wood; a sister, Ginette Stridsberg and her husband Tim of Woolwine, Virginia; a brother, Peter Wood of Waterbury Center; as well as step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his stepfather, Earl Cook Sr.; a brother, Edgar Wood Jr.; and a granddaughter, Kimberly Robtoy.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from St. Andrew Catholic Church in Waterbury on Thursday, January 14, 2016, at 10 a.m. with a reception to follow in the church parish hall. Friends may call at Perkins-Parker Funeral Home in Waterbury on Wednesday, January 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. Spring interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in Duxbury. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Waterbury American Legion Post 59, P.O. Box 417, Waterbury, VT 05676. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
