June 6, 1950 – October 19, 2022
Pastor Gregory Brooks Wood died at his home on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. He was born June 6, 1950, in Greenville, MI, the son of the late Richard B. and Loretta (Currie) Wood.
Gregory grew up in Belding, MI, and often spent summers at his family’s cottage in Pentwater, MI, which would remain his second home. He graduated from Belding High School in 1968 and attended Michigan State University. His education was interrupted when he enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War, serving at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany.
Feeling lost upon returning to the United States, he sought out the counsel of the Pastor of Pentwater United Methodist Church, Clyde Miller. Pastor Miller introduced him to Doc Malwin, with whom he would pray the Sinner’s Prayer and dedicate his life to Christ on the coast of Lake Michigan in 1976. After receiving a call to ministry several months later, he met and married Beverly Mania of Petoskey, MI, with whom he would share the rest of his life.
Gregory received a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1982 and first served as Senior Pastor at both New Buffalo United Methodist Church and Lakeside United Methodist Church simultaneously. During this appointment, he and Beverly welcomed the birth of their sons, Jorah and Noah Wood. He then served as Associate Pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Lansing, MI, for five years, and then nine years as the Senior Pastor at Manistee United Methodist Church. His final full-time appointment was as the Senior Pastor at Pathfinder Church in Portage, MI, for eighteen years.
During his retirement, he continued his ministry as a part-time teaching pastor at Cornerstone Church in Grand Rapids, MI, and interim Senior Pastor of Faith United Methodist Church in Walker, MI.
He loved the Lord, his family, and the many people who became his friends. He delighted in the beauty of God’s creation, especially the waters of Lake Michigan, where he found a passion for sailing he would never lose. He touched the lives of thousands of people through his forty years of ministry and was beloved as a son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather.
Gregory is survived by his wife, two sons, and his grandchildren, Liam Wood, Hudson Wood, and Penelope Wood; sisters, Sandy Feuerstein, Denise Angell, and Wendi Slosser; sister-in-law, Barbara Furgeson; and nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, October 25, 2022, in Pathfinder Church, 8740 S. Westnedge Ave, Portage, MI 49002.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Kids Hope USA, 201 W. Washington Ave, Suite 20, Zeeland, MI 49464 https://www.kidshopeusa.org
Arrangements entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 622 S. Burdick St, Kalamazoo MI 49007.
To view Gregory’s personalized web page, please visit https://www.langelands.com
*Wood, Gregory B. (Beverly) – DECEASED [(RE) D 1980; FE 1984; RE 2015] New Buffalo, Berrien County: Lakeside 2/1/1982; Lansing: Trinity (Assoc) 1985; Manistee 1990; Portage: First 1998; Retired 2015; Grand Rapids: Faith (½) 2021 – 2022.
Last Updated on November 4, 2022