REX WOOD Obituary
REX
WOOD
11/12/1948 -
06/22/2025
Rex Dale Wood, 76, of Meadville passed away Sunday, June 22, 2025, at Pioneer Skilled Nursing Center in Marceline following a four year battle with cancer. He was a faithful follower and servant of the Lord, even with the challenges of his cancer diagnosis. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing."
Rex, son of Dale and Betty (Buckman) Wood, was born November 12, 1948, in Kirksville, Mo.
Rex attended grade school in Linneus until the 5th grade and then Meadville, graduating in 1966. He attended University of Missouri earning a bachelor's degree in ag economics in 1970. After being drafted in the spring of 1970, he attended basic training at Fort Campbell, Ky., and then AIT training at Fort Polk, La. On December 19, 1970, he married Pat Hagan, his wife of 54 years. Three weeks after their wedding Rex left for Vietnam. He came home for two weeks leave in the summer of 1971. Shortly after returning to Vietnam, he was hit with shrapnel and returned home with a Purple Heart.
He was a farmer - farming his entire life, raising corn, soybeans, hay, hogs and cattle north of Meadville where he and Pat reside on the farm they purchased from Rex's Aunt and Uncle in 1970. The addition of four girls from 1973 to 1978 made life interesting on the farm. His livestock herd grew with all four girls involved in 4-H. He added horses and sheep to the farm, much to his chagrin.
He was a member and elder of the Meadville Church of Christ. Rex was also a Meadville School Board President, Linn County Farm Bureau President, County Fair Swine Chairman, on the Linn County Pork Producers Board, Missouri Pork Producers Board, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, Linn County Cattleman's, and the American Legion. While on the Soybean Council he was able to revisit Vietnam, this time for research, to see soybean test plots and the impact on the local community.
Survivors include his wife and four daughters Carrie (Rex) Hall of West Des Moines, Iowa, Jody (Nate) Brady of Shawnee, Kan., Alicia (Corey) Endicott of Gallatin, Mo., Laurie (Seth) Link of Meadville, Mo., grandchildren Drew (Hall), Emma, Elle, Logen (Brady), Libby, Alex, Cord, Cale (Endicott), Wyatt, Kendall, Tessa (Link), brother, Steve (Deb) Wood, sister, Dianna (Kevin) Smiley, brothers-in-law, Gary Buckner, David (Barb) Hagan and Jack Hagan, nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.
His parents, grandparents, father-in-law, mother-in-law and one sister, Elaine Buckner preceded him in death.
Funeral services were Thursday June 26, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Wright Funeral Home in Brookfield with Brother John Lee officiating. The family received friends Wednesday evening from 4 to 6 p.m. on June 25, 2025, at the funeral home. Burial was at Botts Cemetery, Meadville. Memorials to Botts Cemetery or Meadville Church of Christ.
Published by Linn County Leader from Jun. 23 to Jun. 27, 2025.