Paul Woods, 58

Paul N. Woods, 58, of Sturgis, died unexpectedly of a 24-hour rapidly progressing lung infection at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.

The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 and 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Sturgis Missionary Church, 67080 N. M-66, Sturgis.

A service celebrating the life of Paul N. Woods will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, also at Sturgis Missionary Church. The Revs. Chris Knight and Bob Renner will officiate. A dinner for friends and family will be offered following the memorial. Committal will take place at a later date.

Hackman Family Funeral Homes — Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, is entrusted with the arrangements.

Paul was born July 13, 1954, a son of the Rev. Willis (Pete) and Evelyn (Holly) Woods. He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Patricia (Hicks) Woods, on June 8, 1974, in Coldwater.

Paul was a graduate of Coldwater High School. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Christian education from Taylor University and went on to earn his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

After his education, he went to Groveland Missionary Church as associate pastor in 1979. He went on to work for Christian publishing companies: David C. Cook, Group and Zondervan. Following that, in 2002, he assumed a position at Sturgis Missionary Church as associate pastor. He was recently elected the North Central District superintendent for the Missionary Church and was set to begin this position in July 2013.

Paul loved to fiddle with projects around the house, working on cars and anything else he could get his hands on. He was always willing to help others in any way he could, no matter the sacrifice. The one thing that he was most proud of was a family who serves the Lord with their whole hearts. His greatest passion was helping churches and leaders become what God would like them to be. Paul will live on through the lives of the many people he has touched. He was always seeking to reach people with the unchanging and life-changing message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

His family grieves deeply, but not as those without hope. Surviving are his wife, Patricia Woods; two sons, Joshua (Christine) Woods (33) and Nathan Woods (27); a daughter, Rachel Woods (25); grandchildren Annalise Woods, Micah Woods and Jacob Woods; his stepmother, Treva Woods.three sisters, Lois (Paul) Wise, Eunice (Norm) Hunsberger and Ruth (Dave) Smith; a brother, Jim (Judy) Woods; sisters-in-law Peggy (Jim) Modert, Roxanne Hicks and Dawn Hicks; a special “daughter,” Kristance Matthew, and her children, Isaiah, Eleanor, and Jackson; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.