Surnames: Wood, Karkiewicz, Janicki, Schulze, Zuege, Anderson, Mays, St. John, Amundson, Fisher, Kasprzak, Dixon

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) January 30, 2008

Wood, Josephine Nettie "Josie" (11 March, 1923 - 25 January 2008)

Josephine N. "Josie" Wood, 84, of Black River Falls, died Friday, January 25, 2008, at the Pine View Care Center, Black River Falls.

Josephine Nettie Janicki was born March 11, 1923, in Jackson County to Joseph and Mary (Karkiewicz) Janicki. She was raised in Jackson County and graduated from Merrillan High School.

Josie was united in marriage to Victor A. Wood November 12, 1941, in Black River Falls. They lived in Merrillan and Melrose and then farmed in the Town of Franklin, Jackson County, for many years. They also had lived in Chicago and St. Paul. Victor and Josie later lived in Black River Falls for many years and spent the winter months in Mission, TX. Victor Wood died June 12, 2007.

In addition to having helped her husband farm, Josie also was employed as a seamstress repairing damaged uniforms and placing military patches on uniforms at Fort McCoy during World War II. During this time, she began collecting military patches that were given to her by grateful soldiers. She then used these patches to entirely cover and decorate a coat. She had also been employed at a furniture factory in Chicago and at an Armour Packing Plant in St. Paul. In 1968, Victor Wood founded Wood Sales and Service, Inc. of Black River Falls. Josie then began working as a bookkeeper and "right-hand man" to Victor in the operation of Wood Sales and Service, Inc. and Surplus World for many years.

Josie was a member of the Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church. She also had been a former member of the Squaw Creek Ladies Aid, a former member of a gardening club, and was active in 4-H for many years.

She was fond of vegetable and flower gardening, canning, knitting, sewing, crocheting, and hunting and fishing with Victor and family members. She had the distinction of having made over 400 lap and baby quilts for Pine View Care Center, Black River Memorial Hospital, a hospital in McAllen, TX, and the Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church. Of the 400 quilts, 200 baby quilts were made and donated to the Evangelical Lutheran Church for missions.

Survivors include four daughters, Judy (Lance) Schulze and Mary Lou Zuege both of Milwaukee, Vicki Amundson of Black River Falls, and Kathy (Marvin) Anderson of Canyon Lake, TX; two sons, Harvey (Diane) Wood and Jeffrey Wood both of Black River Falls; 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Regina Mays of Troy, MO, and Clara St. John of Vidor, TX; a brother, Ted (Dorothy) Janicki of Neillsville; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

In addition to her husband, Victor, Josie was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Megan Anderson; two sons-in-law, Dean Amundson and Gordon Zuege; four sisters, Prixeda "Tux" Fisher, Helen Wood, Wanda Kasprzak, and Clementina Dixon; and three brothers, Clements Janicki, Walter Janicki, and Joseph Janicki.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 30, 2008, at 11 a.m. from the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, both in Black River Falls, Pastor Ramie Bakken will officiate.

Family and friends were invited for visitation Tuesday, January 29, 2008, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Buswell Funeral Home (www.buswellfuneralhome.com), Black River Falls, and at the church Wednesday from 10 a.m. until services.

The family asks that any memorials be directed to the Black River Falls Hospital Fund.