Mark H. Wood March 12, 1930 - August 9, 2020

Our beloved father, grandfather and friend Mark H Wood returned to his Heavenly Father and love of his life, Rose, at 6:00 PM on August 9, 2020. He was born on 12 March 1930 in his Grandfather’s home in Palmyra, Utah. He is the son of Syrenus and Ethyl Olena Hansen Wood. Mark grew up milking cows and working on the family farm as well as for other farmers around the valley. He graduated from Spanish Fork High School and served on the Seminary Counsel and was a Senior Class Student Government Officer.

When Mark became a young man, his neighbor, a good friend, mentor, and Priesthood leader, Byron Geslison teased Mark often that he had a bride for him coming from Germany. A short while later, Mark met Rose and where they lived on the same block, they got to know each other casually. Mark was best friends with Morris Simmons and while serving as the Best Man at the wedding of Morris, Rose attended the wedding. Not knowing American traditions, Melva Geslison took Rose to the wedding and she told her to just “do as I do.” As they went through the reception line, Melva kissed Mark on the cheek and Rose did as she was told and followed suit by kissing Mark. He turned red as a beet and so began a beautiful life together.

Mark quickly fell in love with his soul mate and one rainy day months later he proposed to Rose while taking a walk on the family farm. Rose was quick to say yes and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 31 August 1953. They were married for 66 years and he would often repeat to his children and grandchildren with a tear in his eye, “Rose has been a very good wife to me.”

Mark started his career at Geneva Steel, but a few months after their wedding, Mark was drafted in to the U.S. Army where he served during the Korean Conflict in Germany and France as a Radio/Phone Communications Expert. His first child, Rose Marie was born in France. He returned from service, earned an apprenticeship in Instrument Repair, and worked another 40 years at Geneva Steel. He also attended Brigham Young University and later went to the Utah Technical College where he earned a degree in Electrical Automation.

He and Rose raise raised seven children, Rose Marie Boerner, Steven (Karalyn) Wood, David (Jackie) Wood, Michelle (Scott) Swenson, Margaret (Jay) Wick, Mary Anne (Jim) Norris, and Paul Wood. Mark was a very proud and loving grandparent to many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

After military service, Mark and Rose purchased a farm in Benjamin, Utah where Mark spent every extra minute available. He loved the farm and taught his children the value of hard work and kept them busy helping to milk cows, feed animals, and caring for a very large garden. While they raised all different types of farm animals, Mark had a deep lover for horses and specifically Arabian horses. He would spend hours reading about them, making beautiful harnesses, training them, and talked continuously of their beauty. The farm was a special gathering place for family and many hours were spent there developing precious memories.

Mark had a love for the Gospel and was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served in many different callings and taught the family to serve willingly and with love. He was not able to serve a mission as a young man, but talked of his desire to serve a mission when the opportunity arose. After retirement, he and Rose served two full-time missions in Germany. One mission was a proselyting mission and the second they had the opportunity to serve in the Germany Freiberg Temple where they developed a love for the Saints in Eastern Europe who traveled great distances to the attend the Temple. He described them as a humble and loving people who made great sacrifices to be able to travel great distances though hardship to attend. He wrote fondly of his love for them in his journal.

Mark was proceeded in death by his dear wife, his parents, two brothers (John and Allen), three sisters (LaRene Arnold, Evelyn Larsen, and Karen Reynolds); two grandchildren (Cleopatra and Jordan). He is

survived by his brothers, Robert, Paul, and Oliver; his 7 children; 28 grandchildren; and 50 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery, 420 S 400 E, Spanish Fork, UT 84660, Saturday, 15 Aug 2020 at Noon. We want to thank family and friends for the love and care they have shown to Mark and Rose, and to Walker Mortuary for their respect to the family and all they have done to make this difficult time care/stress free.