Nona L. Wood's Obituary
Nona “Noni” Lee (Sheets) Wood age 85 of Waupaca, Wisconsin born September 6th, 1940 in Portland, Oregon the daughter of Rev. Lester Herbert “L.H.” Sheets and Rev. Bernice Marie (Meininger) Sheets went into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
She is preceded in death by husband Rev. Jonathan “Jon” Jay (Wilkerson) Wood, father Rev. Lester Herbert “L.H.” (Hinman) Sheets, mother Rev. Bernice Marie (Meininger) Sheets, sister Roma Jean “Jeanie” (Sheets, Schwab) Parks, niece Jodi Elizabeth Wood and 3 nephew/nieces in infancy.
Nona is survived by sons Jonathan Jay (Sheets) Wood Jr., Josh Randall (Sheets) Wood both of Waupaca, Wisconsin, Brother-in-law Richard “Dick” Bailey (Wilkerson) Wood (Gloria Sais), Sister Charceline “Charci” La Rae (Sheets) Wood (Rev. Randall “Randy” Lee) of Eugene, Oregon. Beloved nephews and nieces Michelle “Shelley” Da Rae Schwab, Heather Lea (Schwab) Reis, Carmen (Schwab, Peeve) Wroblewski, Heidi Sue (Wood) Rickards, April (Wood) Sork, Amber (Wood, Bohall) Leubbers, Gabriel Sais, Richard “Ritchie” Bailey (Sais) Wood, Vaughn Rafael “Ruffy” (Sheets) Wood, Chandalee “Chandi” La Rae (Sheets) Wood and a host of numerous great nephews and nieces, great-great-nephews and nieces and cousins.
Nona graduated Gardena High School (Honours) ’57 Gardena, California active in Choirs (Full, Nonets and Solo), Las Lariats and Journalism.
She graduated Vanguard University (Southern California Bible College/Southern California College, S.C.C.) receiving her B.A. (English/Education) ’64.
Nona a gifted and anointed vocalist and musician grew up singing solos and trios with two sisters, playing piano/accordion specials and accompaniment in churches, camps and evangelistic rallies conducted by Assemblies of God Pastor/Evangelist father (musician) and mother across the United States.
Sensing the call of God on her life to missions and especially Latin America with only two options to pursue single (teaching, nursing) she opted for the later “unable to give a doll a shot!”
Travelling extensively as soloist with the S.C.C. Choir in revivals, camps and other engagements Nona took two years in non-consecutive hiatuses during college to work Library Assistant at Frank Lloyd Wright Public Library San Jose, California and minister with her parents Church.
Upon graduation Nona accepted an invitation with Assemblies of God missionary Margaret Clausen at El Orfanatorio Latino Americano. Sitting in a rocking chair in the back of the pick-up most of the way with the Missionary Associates she was to come with she arrived in Acapulco, Mexico.
Loving the children and the Hispanic culture three months in Noni was unhappily but unquestionably directed of the Lord to “go home”. The next two years traveling in her parents’ evangelistic ministry ending in Alert Bay, B.C. Canada with Brother-in-law Pastor Randy and Sister Charci.
Spec. 5 Jonathan Jay Wood (Randy’s Brother discharged from the U.S. Army, Germany) Best Man and Noni Maid of Honor at Randall and Charci’s Wedding two years prior… (a dared kiss of the bridesmaid’s line) returned home hearing from his brother “Noni’s up here” … they married 3 months later in Alert Bay B.C. Canada ministry beginning among First Nations People.
Noni a faithful indispensable Pentecostal Assemblies of God minister/missionary/evangelist’s wife and Military spouse (55.87 years), devoted Mother (54.87 years), Homemaker, Home Educator (10 years), Cook (exceptional), House Keeper (Spit spot), Business Manager (bills paid), Book keeper (impeccable), Writer (published), Secretary/Typist (55/min. 2 errors), Vocalist (studio recorded (2 albums) venues including Japan Yonge Cho rally (Tokyo, Japan) Waikiki Shell and Aloha Stadium (Honolulu, Hawaii), Coast Guard Commandant Pacific Command Easter Service (Diamond Head, Honolulu), Officers’ Dinning Outs (multiple, Atlanta, Georgia; Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin) Light for the Lost WNMD Section 10 dinners (Wauwatosa, Wisconsin) Spencer Lake Christian Center (SLCC) Family Camp (Waupaca, Wisconsin) U.S. Army Warrant Officers Cadet School Graduations (WOCS) (multiple, Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin the first time I had ever heard a duet of the Star Spangled Banner… incredible!), Chapels and Churches large and small (Worldwide), Musician for Military Chapels (paid) and churches, Missionary/Evangelist during Jon’s married 55.87 year Ministry/Military career serving in Mexico (3 months), Canada (5 years), Montana (2 years), Japan (3.5 years), Hawaii (10 years), Georgia (2 years), Florida (1 year), Wisconsin (30 years), Alaska (3 months) and many other locations worldwide (5 years).
Her life career can be understood in four sections according to geography and chronology as follows:
Western U.S. childhood, school, paternal family ministry (with her father and mother), beginning marriage/ministry (first 33 years).
Broad domestic and foreign itinerant ministry (entire family)/including military spouse (14 years) (29 years including 5 above under “beginning marriage/ministry” Canada)
Wisconsin domicile (including 5 years included in “military” above) encompassing many years of travel in ministry with the entire immediate family (Jonathan and Josh) to and from Spencer Lake home in Waupaca across the country and Hawaii (25 years)
Retirement/Final years at the “Cottage house” on Spencer Lake Waupaca, Wisconsin (8 years)
As Mother, Noni devoted herself to Biblical training. Her children remember her reading Children’s Living Bible, one on each side, in daily morning devotions from the earliest ages. She loved reading Christian fiction aloud to her children during homeschool lunch break “just one more chapter Please Mom?” introducing Laura Ingalls Wilder, Janette Oke, Lewis, Milne, Clemens and Crane instilling a love for books.
Her greatest gift to her Jonathan was fighting for him at every turn. After finally beginning to read at age 9 by sighting under Mrs. Narcom the School admin said they had to return to Phonetics (which had not worked for Jonathan) she pulled him out finding another program.
Mrs. Judy was a tremendous experience until a troubled student was admitted to class. When Jonathan’s speech began breaking down again Noni spoke to the teacher who tried to no avail to request a transfer. Mother asked to go over her directly to the principle. Ms. Judy replied “You can try!” The principle’s response? “Special Ed was too much of a problem” terminating the program causing good Ms. Judy to lose her job.
Visiting the next class Mom found Jonathan now age 11 slumped against the wall with a first-grade reader! Asking the teacher “What’s going on with my son?! I know he can do better than that!” The teacher’s response? “I’m sure he can but there are eight other students keeping me from being able to give him what he needs” was the final push Noni needed to obey God’s by this time 3-year-old nudge to homeschool.
Beginning this process by transferring and enrolling him to a reputable program at a lower grade level than his age required and initially giving him a complete break… a step back from any semblance of formal learning for six months… one day in the middle of this process Jonathan picked up a Sesame Street dictionary from the kitchen bar beginning to read with no problem. She said “Jonathan that’s wonderful…” she thought it to be about third grade level! Today Jonathan reads the King James Bible (a twelfth-grade document) annually. He is on his 13th time through in as many years. He reads much (Every Book Beverly Lewis’ has ever written, Most Janette Oke and many Brunstetter Books with good comprehension of story. Truly a gift from his mother and her God.
Nona’s most compelling votive in life was desire to faithfully obey God’s call and directive to “[speak] the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). While not resulting in close friendships (at times outright enmities) and otherwise very close ones she remained faithful speaking
Words needing to be heard. Her desire was far less that one felt comfortable than that you heard God’s Word whether from Scripture, Word of Knowledge or Wisdom, correction, rebuke, edification or warning.
Coupling this, faithful Pentecostal ministry and Spiritual Gifts were a major aspect of in their ministry, Nona in the public Gifts of Tongues, Word of Wisdom and Knowledge, Healing and Jon extensively in Prophecy and Interpretation of Tongues.
Nona spoke with authority on topics of Biblical concern for women’s gatherings, Bible Studies and Pulpit Ministry. She understood Paul’s instruction to “let the younger women be keepers at home” Titus 2:5 as prescriptive though not a “law”.
Once while visiting a church between pastor’s and hearing the head Deacon (preaching) say “No where does it say in the Bible ‘Wives love your husbands’” she went to the front after service (with Dad’s permission and by her side) to point out to the dear brother Titus 2 says “let the older women teach the younger women to love their husbands” … he appreciated it.
A woman of faith and prayer there were several documented cases of divine healing in response to prayer. At least three involving Cancer.
While never returning to Mexico her heart for and call to the Hispanic community always found expression towards Latinos and local Hispanic missions at which they were privileged to minister.
Her son’s struggles with learning from birth arose a fierce pursuit of the doctrine of Divine Healing. Her boys remember the kitchen light on at 4 A.M. to find Mom with her Bible open reading and copying by hand every verse on healing in the New Testament for the first couple hours of her day for months. This pursuit also involved reading works of charismatic leaders and even the “Word of Faith” movement (Hagin, Hayes, Copeland and others). While she did not ascribe to the tenet that “our words have inherent power in themselves” separate from God himself or a “name it and claim it” theology her conclusion in all of this was that it was Biblically correct to say it was always unequivocally God’s will to heal period. Why some are not we don’t completely understand (with three exceptions unbelief, sin and unworthy communion participation… these certainly not causative in every circumstance of non-healing) but that doesn’t change the Biblical truth that it is unequivocally God’s will to heal always else why would healing be included in the atonement? This stance while supported largely among Churches in Hawaii (though themselves more “Word of Faith” than herself) did place her at odds with others of her Denomination and family, most notably her dear father.
Mom’s view of financials was modeled and taught. Debt avoided and if incurred paid… in full on time. Dad and Mom’s ultimate financial bottom line for the ministry had little or nothing to do with income or “what worked” than with the will of God and faithful representation and fulfillment of mission… even if that required personal financing.
This prioritization of mission over making was a hallmark of their ministry and perhaps one of the greatest lessons of their lives. Though largely misunderstood no place was ever too small or too big, too rich or too poor, too near or too far for them to go and minister in Word music and song if it was in the direction and will of God. No words too hard or too true, issues too uncomfortable or unimportant to faithfully and kindly address… if prompted of the Spirit even if that meant you no longer liked them! Some didn’t!
It is this devotion to God and the lives of people which consistently and unmistakably marks the life of Noni. A faithfulness to God her family, friends (and enemies) and those she recently met (there were no strangers) that is most readily simply and easily summed up in one word… Love… she… cared…
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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