Kenneth Patrick Wood

Kenneth Patrick Wood, age 58, of Alexandria Minnesota died in his home with his loving wife by his side, after fighting a courageous, hard, long, cancer battle on Monday, February 12, 2024. Kenneth “Woody” Patrick Wood was born on August 23rd, 1965 in Houston, Texas. He grew up in South Houston, Texas with his parents, and his five sisters with him being the youngest and only son. Growing up Ken would often help his dad with any construction projects he had and this is where he developed his strong work ethic. 

He attended South Houston High School, graduating with the class of 1984. While attending high school Ken enjoyed many sports including football, basketball, baseball, and track. After high school, he attended Universal Technical Institute and completed an associates degree in Auto & Diesel Mechanic. While attending he received a perfect attendance award and received an Outstanding Achievement Certificate for Automotive Chassis Units. Then, Kenneth "Woody" decided to follow his father, Caleb, to Mountain View, California. While here he completed an Apprenticeship Training program in drywall and lathing. 

Kenneth met his wife, Kay, by chance in 1987 at the 101 Club in Mountain View, California. During this time Ken was living in Mountain View and Kay was residing in Sunnyvale. After dating for awhile, Kay claims that Woody often asked Kay to marry him multiple times, often saying “I think I really want to marry you.” When Woody finally proposed to Kay he put the ring in the dessert, which Kay would always order, but this day Kay decided she didn’t want the dessert. Somehow, Woody convinced Kay to order dessert that night so he could pop the question to Kay. Then, Ken and Kay decided to get married in Glenwood, Minnesota on August 18, 1990. After their wedding, the couple remained in California for two years before purchasing a home in Alexandria, Minnesota, where they lived over the course of their time together. Ken and Kay then had their daughter, Allison, on March 25th, 1994. Kenneth would often brag of his daughter and her accomplishments and considered her to be his best accomplishments in his life. Woody often joked that Allison should have been named Holly so her name would have been “Holly Wood." 

Kenneth enjoyed hunting (more like just watching the animals while being in nature), fishing, playing poker, playing pool, kayaking, cooking (especially Mexican cuisine, breakfast food, frying fish, or trying a original new recipe), watching sports like the Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, and the Minnesota Vikings, watching movies, working, cracking jokes, volunteering or helping people anyway he could and spending time with the people he cared about. Kenneth enjoyed the family dog, Oscar, which the family obtained two weeks before his initial cancer diagnosis. Woody was able to do many different things on the job including, chain link fencing, ceilings (grid, drop down), welding, sheet rock, footing wood and metal framing siding, soffits, and estimating for jobs. 

Ken is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kay Wood of Alexandria, and their only daughter Allison (Shane) Netter of St. Cloud, Minnesota. Ken is also survived by his mother and father-in-law, Elder and Deloris Peterson of Glenwood, Minnesota; sisters: Gwen Prichard of Souderton, PA, Evelyn (Ronnie) Driscoll of Boise, ID, Sandra (Byran) Trahan of Shepherd, TX, Yvonne Tejkl of Owosso, MI, Jennifer (Ben) Fry of Springfield MO; aunt, Annette Crawford of Tyler, TX; brother-in-law, Kurt (Teri) Peterson of Glenwood, MN; along with numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents, Caleb and Christine Wood; and his grandparents.

A memorial service for Woody will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria. A visitation will take place Friday, February 16, 2024 at Anderson Funeral Home from 4:00-7:00 PM, as well as one hour prior to services on Saturday. Following the memorial service on Saturday, a funeral luncheon will be served next door at Shalom Lutheran Church. 

IN LIEU OF FLOWERS MEMORIALS TO LET'S GO FISHING, ANGEL FOUNDATION, AND AMERICAN CANCER FOUNDATION HOPE LODGE OF MINNEAPOLIS ARE PREFFERED. 

American Cancer Society Hope Lodge - Minneapolis