Eugene Maurice Woodcock, son of Maurice and Ruth Chapin Woodcock, was born August 16, 1927, at the rural Tripoli farm home of his parents. He was baptized by his grandfather, Rev. A.C. Woodcock at the Congregational Church in Tripoli. He received his education in the Tripoli Schools, graduating from Tripoli High School with the class of 1946. He attended Iowa State University in Ames and also dairy farmed with his father prior to marriage.
On September 3, 1950, he was united in marriage with Corrine Pipho at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sumner. From May of 1951 to May of 1953, he served with the U.S. Army Vet Corps at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. Following his military service, he farmed in the Tripoli area for 10 years and later engaged in the livestock business in Minnesota and Illinois. He also worked as a substitute mail carrier and later a full time mail carrier in Tripoli. He retired in 1995.
Following a sudden illness, Gene’s death occurred early Friday morning, May 8, 2009, at his home in Sumner. He was 81 years old and a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sumner. He was also a longtime member of Thomas E. Woods Post #223, American Legion of Sumner. He enjoyed gardening, especially raspberries, was an avid sports fan, he enjoyed playing cards, and spending time at Pickerel Lake, Minnesota.
In addition to his wife, Corrine of Sumner, he is survived by three children, Tom Woodcock ( girlfriend, Jennifer) of Westgate, Kay (Dave) Priebe of Sumner, and Jack Woodcock, also of Sumner; three grandchildren, Jessica, Joshua, and Traci Priebe; two step grandchildren, Shawn Peters and Tony Hoth; two step great grandchildren, Elijah and Jamin Peters; and two sisters, Geraldine (Walter) Tarter of Janesville and Coleen Janssen of Petersburg, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother-in-law, Joe Janssen.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 15, 2009, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Sumner, Iowa conducted by Rev. George Volkert. Inurnment will be held at Lutheran Cemetery of Sumner Township at a later date. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 14, 2009 at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and one hour before services at the church on Friday.
