Greg Wood

Gregory Robert Wood was born February 19th, 1955, and grew up in Evansville, Wisconsin, where he was known as “Woody”; to the rest of us, he was “Greg.” He passed away peacefully in his sleep from prostate cancer on February 8th, 2025, at the age of 69. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Lane Wood, his mother, Maxine Moore Wood-Young, Maxine’s husband, Wayne E. Young, and his brother-in-law, Kenneth J. Ziebell. Greg is survived by his wife of 34 years, Janet Lewis, and his siblings, Daryl Wood (Margaret), Ronald Wood (Patricia), and Kathryn Ziebell (Kenneth). He is also survived by his close friend since grade school, Scott Allen (Debbie).

After high school, Greg attended UW-Stevens point for two years. Greg moved to Madison, Wisconsin and worked at the University of Wisconsin for 34 years, first as a custodian and then as a custodial supervisor. Greg’s interests were comic book collecting, science fiction and fantasy – both books and media, the Doctor Who science fiction television series, playing Dungeons & Dragons both in person and online with friends, and, of course, watching Green Bay Packers games. He regularly went to and sang at karaoke nights and he was good at it, too. He even won a few contests.

Greg and Janet met in the ConSuite (hospitality suite) of a Madison science fiction and fantasy convention in 1986, moved in together in 1987, and married in 1991. Their honeymoon was at the Fifth World Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention (Chicon V) in Chicago, Illinois. Greg was always easy to get along and had a great sense of humor, which he kept even to the very end. Cats, dogs, and small children naturally gravitated toward him. He had a talent for letting irritations roll off his shoulders like water. He was always thoughtful and caring, an oasis of calm and comfort for Janet.

A non-traditional memorial celebration of Greg’s life will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, Wisconsin on March 16th, from 3pm-7pm. In memory of Greg Wood, please consider making a donation to the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin in lieu of flowers.

Please share your memories of Greg by posting in his Guestbook.

Cress Funeral Service

3610 Speedway Road, Madison

(608) 238-3434