Truman David Wood

Truman David Wood, age 77, of Mankato, died Monday, December 21, 2009 at Immanuel St. Joseph's Hospital, Mankato.

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at Centenary United Methodist Church, Mankato. Private burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Mankato. Visitation will be one hour before service at church on Tuesday. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are preferred to Centenary United Methodist Church.

Truman was born November 2, 1932 to Ralph Truman and Myfanwy Jean (Hughes) Wood in Lura Township, Faribault County, Minnesota. He graduated from Delavan High School in 1950. Truman was united in marriage to Reta J. Hoover on June 14, 1955. He received his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Mankato State Teachers College and a Master's and Doctorate degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City. He was a Civics and Geography Teacher at Sudlow Junior High School, Davenport, Iowa 1955-1956, Speech Teacher and Debate Coach at New Ulm High School 1956-1959, and member of the Political Science/Law Enforcement Department, Minnesota State University, Mankato 1961-1991.

Truman was a lay speaker for United Methodist Church for 30 years and a fill-in preacher for rural and small-town churches in Southern Minnesota, notably serving Carmel, Cambria and Jerusalem Presbyterian churches in western Blue Earth County. He was an in-demand commencement speaker for area high schools. He was a member of the Mankato Housing and Redevelopment Authority; Mankato Planning Commission for 22 years and Chair for 14 years; Chair of the Administrative Council of Centenary United Methodist Church as the MultiChurch Center of Mankato began and then Chair decades later when the MultiChurch came to an end. He served on the Board of Decision Hills United Methodist Camp near Spicer, Minnesota. Truman served as emcee for the Lake Crystal-Hanska Barbershop Chorus; was creator of Centenary Camera, a thrice-weekly digital email newsletter; editor of Woodchips, a political and social weekly commentary email newsletter distributed to 258 readers coast-to-coast for nine years. Truman was a public speaker to service clubs and election analyst for local radio and television for many years. He served as campaign advisor to numerous political candidates, most importantly the late Rep. Dick Wigley of Lake Crystal. He was active in Republican politics in the former Second Congressional District, serving as a national convention delegate in San Francisco in 1964. Truman and Reta sponsored the Wood Scholarship for juniors majoring in political science or international relations that has been awarded since 1992 at MSU. Truman enjoyed woodworking, photography, reading, was a history buff, a sports fan, and enjoyed listening to his children and grandchildren sing. In later years he was an avid member of Poets and Storytellers, a volunteer performance group with ties to Delavan.

Truman is survived by his wife, Reta, who lives in The Willows, a memory unit at Keystone Community, Mankato; two children, Rev. Holly (Rev. Jay Krumeich) Wood of Belleville, IL, Jeffrey (Julie) Wood of St. Cloud; three grandchildren, KC (Kelsey) Krumeich, Kady Krumeich, and Samuel David Wood; three step-grandchildren, Ross Thelen, Summer (Jaime) Hommerding, Nick Thelen; two great-grandchildren, Winston Hommerding and Scarlett Hommerding; brother, William Charles (Robin) Wood of Petaluma, CA; two brothers-in-law, Dean (Donna) Hoover of Pepin, WI and Noel (Marilyn) DeCambaliza of Hanover; uncle, William S. Hughes of Lake Crystal; aunt, Constance Hughes Odanovich of Arden Hills; his Wood and Hughes cousins; two special friends, Mary (Willette) Hughes and Jeanne Audrey Powers; and many extended family.

Truman was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law, Melville and Dorene Hoover.

Students, staff, alumni and friends of Minnesota State University, Mankato are encouraged to wear school pins, rings, ties " all things purple and gold " to the service.