Gale Wood, 86, of Solon, IA and formerly of Victor, died on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at MercyOne Medical Center in Iowa City.

A funeral mass will be held 10:00 AM, Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Victor. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Victor. A luncheon will follow in the parish hall of St. Bridget Catholic Church.

Memorials may be designated to Iowa City Hospice or to St. Bridget Catholic Church and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 485, Victor, IA 52347. Memories and condolences may be shared with his family online at www.smithfh.com.

Gale Louis Wood was born on January 20, 1939, in Cedar Rapids, IA, to Gale and Eva (Berger) Wood. Gale spent his early years in Cedar Rapids before moving to Colton, CA, where he graduated from high school in 1958.

On May 10, 1958, Gale married Beverly Jordan in Bloomington, CA. Their 66-year union was blessed with six children: Greg, Steven, Julie, Kathy, Jeff, and Jon. In 1978, the family settled in Victor, IA, where Gale worked as a truck driver for Manatts, LL Pelling, and Cenex Propane over the years. Gale and Bev were members of St. Bridget Catholic Church in Victor.

Gale was an outdoorsman at heart, cherishing time spent camping and fishing. He found joy in visiting his children and grandchildren, traveling to Colorado and California to see family, and listening to country music—especially Johnny Cash. Known as a jokester with an ornery streak, Gale's warm humor and devotion to family left a lasting mark on all who knew him.

Gale is survived by his wife, Bev Wood of Solon; children, Greg (Sharon) Wood of Coralville, IA, Steve Wood of Edmonds, WA, Julie (Paul) Wolf of Edmonds, WA, Kathy Wagamon of Coralville, IA, Jeff Wood of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Jon (Tracy) Wood of Victor; grandchildren, Alexander (Rory) Wolf, Michael (Katie) Wolf, Nathan (Baylee) Wagamon, Brittney (Brandon) Schafbuch, Brendan (Andrea) Wood, Joshua (Bree) Wood, and Jessica Wood; and eight great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Gale and Eva Wood; brother, Dale Wood; and sister, Nadine Haley.