Our beloved mother Joan M. (Bell) Hood, age 86 of Waupaca, WI passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at Bethany Home in Waupaca with her loving family by her side.

She was born on January 25, 1935 in Marquette, MI to the late Elwin W. and Ruth (O’Neill) Bell. On September 1, 1956 Joan married Ralph Hood in Marquette, MI. Following Ralph during his military career to many states throughout the U.S. and after his retirement in May of 1975, Joan, Ralph and their children moved to the Waupaca area.

Joan is survived by her four children: Jon Hood of Waupaca and his children Brandon (Amanda) Hood and their daughter Claire and son Evan of West Bend and Travis Hood of Appleton, Kathy (Barry) Jacowski of Almond and their daughter Nicole (Brad) Abrahamson and their daughter Carli, David (Carie) Hood of Green Lake and Jerry Hood of Waupaca. She is also survived by her sister Sharon (Howard) Ellis from Marquette, MI and sister-in-law Janet Hood from Prescott, AR. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mom was the glue that kept us all together. Family gatherings were extremely important to her. She always wanted the family together no matter what. Her heart and love for us was like no other. She loved us hard, forgave us easily and was always there when we needed her. Our happiness, wants and needs were always put before what she wanted. We couldn’t have asked for a better person to be our mother. She gave so much and took so little. Our hearts are heavy at her passing. Mom enjoyed attending her sons’ sporting events and could always be found cheering them on in the stands. All of the Comet football players knew her as “Ma Hood” and they would come over to her home for dinner before each football game. She was an amazing cook and everything she made was made with love, which was passed down happily to her daughter. She enjoyed canning vegetables from the huge garden she had and shared them with everyone. She loved spending countless hours with her granddaughter and grandsons and great-grandchildren. Joan and Ralph enjoyed their many trips to Florida during the winter months and their camping outings with friends during the summer months in Wisconsin.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph; her parents; father and mother-in-law, Ralph C. Hood Sr. and Virginia; brothers and sisters-in-law, Elwin L. and Margaret Bell, William and Helen Bell; nephews, Terry Bell, Jerry Bell and a niece, Carrie Rose, all from Marquette, MI and in-laws: Bill Hood, Frank Hood, John Hood and Marqurite Cleek.

We would like to thank Rachel, Carrie and Payton from Bethany and Heartland Hospice for making our mother’s final hours compassionate and comfortable.

Services will be in the spring at the King Veterans Home. Maple Crest Funeral Home of Waupaca, is assisting the family with arrangements.