Muriel Wood

Muriel (Jean) WoodMuriel (Jean) Wood, 81, died early Friday morning, Nov. 26, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.In accordance with Jean's wishes, cremation rites have been provided. A garden memorial will take place at the rural home of her daughter and son-in-law in early May. Born on February 19, 1929 at the family home in Rhodes, Jean was the sixth child and second daughter of Leonard and Hallie (Johnson) Landis. Her brothers and sisters included Lloyd, Lyle, Harold, Donald, Carol, Darlene and Marvin. In 1935, her parents purchased a farm near Bangor where Jean grew up helping her father raise hogs and grow his famous melons. She attended school in Liscomb. Jean moved from the farm to Marshalltown where she met James H. (Jim) Wood. They were married at the Landis family farm on August 16, 1947. Jim and Jean became Marshalltown business owners in 1950 when they purchased a commercial print shop and renamed it the Iowa Printing Company. In the late 1960's, Jean went to work at Taylor's Maid-Rite and, from 1976 to her retirement in 1990, she was employed in the copy center at Fisher Controls.Her mother passed on to her all the kitchen arts and Jean was an amazing cook. (The number and types of pies she produced every year for the Thanksgiving holiday was extraordinary.) She was always ready for a road trip, no matter how long or short. She travelled with her fishing pole and tackle box and was always more than ready to drop her line into the water. She was addicted to jigsaw puzzles. And Jean loved the challenge, the reward and the peace of gardening.Jean is survived by her daughter Janean (Jean) and son-in law Ron Klosterman of rural St. Anthony, sons Dale of Potosi, MO and Jim Jr., sister Darlene See of Camano Island, WA and brother Marvin Landis of New Providence as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, four brothers and one sister.