Dorothy C. Wood

Dorothy (Dotty) Clara Wood, nee Zimmermann, passed away on April 14th, 2026 in Washington, Missouri.

Dorothy was born on June 26, 1932 the second of four children to her Lutheran Missionary Parents, Pastor Elmer Christian Zimmermann and his wife Anna Emma Zimmermann, nee Backs, in Shasi Hubei China.

Dorothy enjoyed the Chinese way of life and the people’s gentle nature. The family became good friends with the Chinese, other foreign nationals and their children. Her father brought many of the Chinese people to the Christian faith and her mother convinced the women to stop binding their young girl’s feet.

When Japan invaded China in 1937, their town was bombed quite often. Dorothy’s family and the other foreign nationals were detained in their homes by the Japanese Military then moved to an internment camp. Later Dorothy and her family, along with other Americans, were exchanged as prisoners of war.

On June 29, 1942 they left China on the Ocean Liner the SS Conte Verde, then transferred to the SM Gripsholm. After 2 months at sea, they finally arrived in America.

Dorothy heard from her parents about the Statue of Liberty and the freedom it represented. She was anxious to see it, but because of dense fog could not until it was quite close. The fog parted revealing the statue’s foot and when she looked up at the site it brought her to tears. She talked often about this treasured memory.

After returning to America, the family first lived in Nashville, Illinois then moved to St. Louis. Life in America was quite different than China and It took some time for Dorothy to adjust.

On January 23rd, 1955 Dorothy was united in marriage to William K. Wood, Sr. at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. They first lived in St. Louis and were blessed with two sons, Jonathan and William. In 1962 they moved to a small farm in Labadie, Missouri.

While raising her boys she herself obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Medical Technology. Dorothy worked for St. John’s (Mercy) Hospital Creve Coeur, Missouri, in the Nuclear Medical Lab. During their time in Labadie, she and her husband held down full-time jobs while farming in the evenings and weekends with the help of their sons and neighbors.

After 20 years, they moved to Salem, Missouri and began cattle farming full-time. In Salem, Bill had his cattle and Dorothy her flock of sheep. Her children and grandchildren came down often to the farm for long weekends and holiday visits.  After the men would do some farm work Dorothy would graciously feed us all home cooked meals. Then the men would fall asleep snoring in the living room while the women and children played games.

Dorothy and Bill were avid dancers. Even after Bill’s death, Dorothy continued to go to dances and dance lessons. In her home was a modest wooden sign with the words “I hope You Dance.”

Dorothy’s very kind and gentle nature touched all those who knew her. She enjoyed calligraphy and drawing. She created a series of greeting cards titled the Meek Ones and had a special love for sheep because their trust in the Sheppard was like her trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Pastor Elmer Christian Zimmermann and his wife Anna Emma Zimmermann, nee Backs; her husband, William (Bill) K. Wood, Sr.; two sisters, Elizabeth (Betty) Lochhaas and husband, Clifford (Kip) Lochhaas and Katherine Ellerbrock and husband, Don Ellerbrock.

Dorothy is survived by one brother, Benjamin Zimmermann and wife Melvia of Eagle, Idaho; two sons, Jonathan Charles Wood and wife Beth of Washington, Missouri and William K. Wood, Jr. and wife Nancy of Labadie, Missouri; four grandchildren, Sarah (Wood) and husband Mike Huelsing of St. Louis, Mo, Michelle Wood and friend Nathan Devore of Nashville Tennessee, Adam Wood and Wife Trini of Washington, Missouri and Matthew and wife Carmen of Labadie, Missouri; 8 great-grandchildren; Lucy, Evie, Blaire, Harrison, Benjamin, Bradley, Clara and Beau; a lifelong friend, Mary Ellen Grey and many other family and friends.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington, with the Funeral Service beginning at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Church Cemetery.

Dorothy requested memorials be given to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington, Missouri. The Wood family was served by Nieburg-Vitt, Miller Funeral Home in Washington, Missouri.

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