Reverend Deanna Marie Woodward, 66, of Preston, Minn., passed away unexpect-edly on Wednesday October 2, 2024.
Deanna Marie Sigrist was born on September 30th, 1958 in Zumbrota, Minn., to Kenneth and Lennis (Rauenhorst) Sigrist of rural Pine Island, Minnesota. She grew up on a dairy farm with her younger brother Bryan, attended Pine Island Schools, and graduated Valedictorian of her high school class of 1976. Following high school, she attended Hamline University earning a bachelor’s degree in Religion in 1980. While in college she met her husband, Reverend Mark Alan Woodward, whom she married on June 21, 1980, in Pine Island, Minn. Together they moved to Evanston, Ill., to attend Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. She and Mark graduated from Seminary in 1983. She was ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 1985. She went on to serve several churches; internship at West Ridge in Chicago, Ill.; Wykoff and Fountain United Methodist Churches (1983-1991); Evangel United Methodist Church in Rochester, Minn., (1995- 2003); Plainview and Kellogg, Minn., and returned to serve Fountain, Cherry Grove, Spring Valley and Preston United Methodist churches as part of the Maple Leaf Parish in 2014.
She took an extended leave in the early 1990s to be a stay-at-home mom while her daughters were young. She loved spending time with her family, reading, gardening, going to garage sales, traveling across the United States on bus tours, but most of all, she cherished being a grandma.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Rev. Mark Alan Woodward; daughters Laura (John) Riess and Amy (Wilson) Cahill, grandchildren Daniel, Molly and Grace Riess and Connor and Sophia Cahill; brother Bryan (Kris) Sigrist; aunt Carol Montgomery, and several cousins, nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents Kenneth and Lennis Sigrist, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, October 7, 2024, at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley, Minn. Her life and eternal life will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, also at Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley, Minn., with one hour visitation prior to the funeral service.
Interment will be at the United Methodist Cemetery in Preston, Minnesota.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the church of donor’s choice within the Maple Leaf Parish – Spring Valley Faith, Preston, Cherry Grove, or Fountain United Methodist Churches.
Condolences may be left at www.Hindtfuneralhome.com.
DeAnne Vogt says
We are so sorry to hear the passing of Deanna.
We remember her and Mark fondly having lived in Preston and members of Preston Methodist Church
All our sympathy during this time.
Dennis Stone says
Mark: We just found out about Deanna’s passing. We want to know you are in our thoughts and we will keep you and your family in our prayers.
James Torgerson says
I’m so sorry Mark you don’t know me but I am from Lenora and lived for a short time in the house next to the church which used to be owned by my parents.