Charlotte J. Wood

Charlotte “Shirley” Jean Wood, 89, of Ely, passed away peacefully at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. The family wishes to acknowledge Shirley’s Boundary Waters Care Center family, who cared for her and loved her so well in the recent few years. Our gratitude cannot be adequately expressed to you all. Shirley’s Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely with interment at the Ely Cemetery. 
Shirley was born in Ely on Sept. 29, 1937, to Joe and Angela Gorshe Lobe and was a lifelong Ely resident and member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. She was raised on East Washington Street with her big brother, Joe “Sonny” Lobe, and in the company of her dear Gorshe and Lobe cousins as well as very many neighborhood kids. Shirley attended the Ely schools where she enjoyed lots of fun times with her friends and classmates, and graduated with the Memorial High School class of 1955. She waited on tables at the Voyager Cafe where she served many dinners to a certain handsome new bachelor in town, and indeed they caught each other’s eye. Shirley married Robert “Bob” Wood on June 2, 1956, and they began their life together on East Camp Street in Ely where they lived and raised their three children. 
Shirley was known for her warm hospitality and bottomless coffee cups, joyful chatter and laughter, her careful attention to her home and decor, and her truly amazing meals and baked goods. She loved shopping, growing flowers, socializing, her TOPS career, and meeting new people and hearing their stories during the years she worked at Mills Clothing and the video store in Ely.
Shirley lived vigorously for her family, especially when she could feed them, hear their updates, witness their successes, or cheer for their sports achievements or academic accomplishments. She was graced with motherhood in her life, but delighted watching her grandchildren grow into adults and bless her and Bob with great-grandchildren. 
Shirley is survived by her son, Dan Wood of Ely; daughter and son-in-law, Barb and Rich Kuzma of Eagan; son, Brian Wood and fiancée Courtney Chapman of Jerseyville, Ill.; grandchildren, Mandy (Andy) Wineberg, Jill (Derek) Brown, Jordan (Krista) Kuzma, Daniel (Mary) Wood, Sara (Dan) MacCoy and Louisa Wood; great-grandchildren, Henry and Jack Wineberg, Evan Wood, Aspen MacCoy, Emmett Brown, Eleanor Kuzma, Ace MacCoy, William Brown and Charlotte Kuzma; sister-in-law, Jean Lobe; brother-in-law, Alfred Kimmons; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and childhood best friend, Bonnie Hermesmaa. 
She was preceded in passing by her husband; parents; brother, Joe Lobe; parents-in-law, Daniel and Mildred Wood; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law,  Milton Wood, Florence and Paul Lease, Richard and Lil Wood, Merle Wood, Harry and Clarice Wood, Charles Wood, Hazel Kimmons, Dorothy and Tom Dye, Jim Wood and John Wood.