Jay Wood

Jay L. Wood, age 58, passed away on May 19th, 2025. Jay was born in Milwaukee on April 14th, 1967, to the late Eugene and Frances Wood (Kwasny). Jay was the last child to be born, the youngest of five brothers. He grew up following in their footsteps, most of the time barefoot and more often than not, getting up to mischief with them. Whether he was lying back in the pews of the church, drinking chocolate milk and looking at the lights above the congregation, or lying on the driveway shirtless, soaking in the sun like a lizard, he was always observing everything around him. His keen observational skills would certainly lead him to discovery! Or at least that’s what he had hoped while digging in the backyard to try to find mammoth bones.

As Jay became a young man, he left the family home at 20, unsure where to start. He worked odd jobs, everything from pool monitoring to working at Supreme Meats in the meat locker. However, that changed when his father suffered a stroke in his mid-50s. He moved back home to take care of him until his father died from a widespread and late-discovered cancer diagnosis. He then left home, daring to make a move that few would be bold enough to attempt. A literal move to Japan! He lived with his dear friend, dear to him for his entire life, David Coleman. He didn’t stay long, for he was always driven to care for his family. When his mother suffered a minor stroke, he returned to ensure he would be close by.

Back in the States, he entered into the medical field as a Nursing Assistant, quickly moving into the role of a Critical Care Technician. In this role, he met his first wife, and the mother of his two children. His late wife, Leeanna, a Registered Nurse at the same hospital, quickly drew him in with her warmth and kindness with the patients they cared for. Soon they were married, and not long after, Kayla and Emily were born.

While starting their family, Jay also began his career in law enforcement. His career was long, and many accomplishments were made. He began his career in Walworth County before shifting to Rock County. His position at the Rock County Sheriff’s Office consistently moved upwards, coming to a close as a Captain. He took the most tremendous pride in orchestrating the distribution of “Cyber Cop”, an internet monitoring software. 2,600 copies of the program were distributed; its design was to help parents monitor the activities of their children to keep them safe from predatory and other dangerous online situations. In addition, he worked heavily with programs that dealt with driver safety. While working for the Sheriff’s Office, he also worked to remove arrest warrant commitments for Rock County for civil forfeitures.

While his family and career developed, he continued pursuing his education. All while working grueling hours, he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree. His constant desire to learn was not satiated by school, which was apparent in his propensity to research any topic he found interesting. Libraries and discount book stores were his second home.

Jay spent his free time hunting for good deals. Whether surfing the internet and stalking eBay postings for the best deal on a Vincent Price poster or meandering through the narrow halls of an antique mall with a Monster Morning Sunrise in hand, looking for a good bargain on some vintage Halloween decor, he was always looking for something “neat.” His collections varied greatly in topic, but that made him all the more interesting.

Jay’s resilience was perhaps the most admirable aspect about him. After the premature death of his first wife in early 2021, his and his children’s lives were put on hold. This time was incredibly difficult and a deep struggle for them. Jay was an extraordinarily strong individual who led his family through challenges, big and small. This grief was the largest challenge he and his children had ever had to face, and his strength was astounding.

In recent years, Jay had deepened his relationship with God. His Catholic faith had always been important to him, but his practice of his faith brought him much comfort. His religion introduced him to new people and even to new love. Nely Nasir, his wife, was introduced to him through the Catholic church, and their love was instant. God brought the two of them together, and his time with her was truly blessed with pure joy and happiness. This happiness was abundantly apparent to all those around him, who now grieve his loss and the joyful memories he was meant to make with his new wife.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Francis Wood (Kwasny), and his first wife, Leeanna Wood (Carter). He is survived by his wife, Nely Nasir; his daughters Kayla and Emily (Bowen); brothers Robert (LaVonne), Lawrence (Julie), Thomas (Amanda), and Peter (Julie); and many nieces, nephews, and loving friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at St. Ann Catholic Church, 323 N. Van Buren St., Stoughton. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2025 at Cress Funeral Home, 206 W. Prospect St., Stoughton. A Vigil and Rosary Service will follow the visitation at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Jay will be laid to rest at Bethel Cemetery in Evansville.

Please follow this link to watch the live or recording of Jay Wood's Funeral Mass. https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony/?c=6b26c804-f745-47c6-9884-dc6910f71ead