In Memoriam: Our Pastor, Rev. Jeremy Wood

Our loss is Heaven’s gain: Sing with the angels, Rev. Jeremy Wood. You are forever loved.

Rev. Jeremy Robert Wood, known as “Woody” to friends and “Rev. Jeremy” to parishioners, quietly entered his eternal reward on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 at 12:15 pm, at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO.

He was born at Lima Memorial Hospital, in Lima, Ohio, the second son of Robert Gene and Gloria Jeanne (Horn) Wood, on January 11, 1974. Jeremy attended Temple Christian School, Lima, OH (1992), Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL (1996), earning a BA in Educational Ministries & Music, and Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO, receiving his Master of Divinity degree, magna cum laude,as well as completing the certificate as a Fellow of the Congregational Foundation for Theological Studies (2007) from the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches. While at Moody, he sang for four years in the Moody Chorale and served as its President. He organized the Chorale’s 50th Anniversary tour of the British Isles, including the Chorale’s founding conductor, Dr. Donald Hustad and his wife, Ruth. 

The great passion of Jeremy’s life was serving Jesus Christ. After considering a career in law and politics, he began sensing the call to  Christian ministry during his junior year of high school. His first ministerial call was to Norton Grace Brethren Church, now Grace Church of Greater Akron. One of the highlights of his ministry there was organizing and promoting a concert at Grace Church with Billy Graham Evangelistic Association musicians George Beverly Shea and Don Hustad. He served as Minister of Music there from 1996 to 2003. He then accepted the call to pastor First Congregational Church of Bunker Hill, IL. After sixteen years in Bunker Hill, Jeremy transferred his ministerial credentials from the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches to the Illinois South Conference of the United Church of Christ and received a call to be Senior Pastor of Salem United Church of Christ, serving that wonderful flock with great joy from 2019 until his death.

Jeremy never wanted anyone to feel unloved. He went out of his way to love and accept all that the Lord put in his path. His exponential love of people and celebrating them through gospel ministry is evidenced by the 103 students confirmed in the faith, 175 baptisms, 163 funerals, and 119 weddings he officiated in his thirty years of full-time ministry. Jeremy had a strong sense of nostalgia and loved history, hymns and gospel songs, road trips, old fashioned hamburger stands, the Smoky Mountains, and traveling to the Holy Land. Known for his quick wit, he would do nearly anything to make someone laugh and enjoyed laughing loudly at any number of jokes and silly stories. His love of music caused him to sing often, even regularly serenading his congregation at the close of the worship service. He cherished any time spent with parishioners, friends, and family, especially “back home, in Ohio.”

He was preceded in death by his father, Pastor Robert “Bob” Wood, Uncle William “Bill” and Aunt Carolyn Wood, Uncle Johnny and Aunt Tammy Wood, and cousin Floyd Wood.

He is survived by his mother, Gloria, of Winter Haven, FL, and his two brothers: David (Lynda) Wood of Angola, IN; and Rev. Dr. Joel Enoch Wood (Emily) of La Mesa, CA. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews: Emma (Zane) Robinson, Joel (Avery) Wood II, Esther Wood, Jonathan Wood, and Effie Wood; step-nephews Chad Schuch and Derek (Autumn) Schuch; and step-great nieces and nephews Kaylee (Sam) Hathaway, Carter Schuch, Dathan Schuch, and Vella Schuch; aunts and uncles David (Linda) Wood; Raelene (Danny) Phillips; Kaye (Ken) Heath, Bernie (Sherry) Horn, and Beth (Dave) Hurles; and many cousins.

Two funeral services will be held. The first at Salem United Church of Christ in Alhambra, IL on Tuesday, November 24, 2026 at 11 am, with a social hour and luncheon following. The second at Lima Community Church in Lima, Ohio on Saturday, November 28, 2026 at 11 am, with hors d’oeuvres after in the Journey Building. Both services will be officiated by his brother, Rev. Dr. Joel Enoch Wood. Interment of ashes will follow the November 28 service at Eagle Creek Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Forest, OH.

In lieu of flowers and because Jeremy’s great passion in life was the church, the family requests that memorials be made to one of the three family churches: Cypress Ridge Presbyterian Church, Winter Haven, FL; where Gloria is a member; Salem United Church of Christ, Alhambra, IL, Jeremy’s last congregation; or New Life Presbyterian Church, La Mesa, CA, where Joel serves as Senior Pastor.